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THE    UPWARD  AND   ONWARD   SERIES. 


BIVOUAC  AND  BATTLE; 


STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER. 


BY 


OLIVER    OPTIC, 


AUTHOR  OF  "YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD,"  "THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  8TORIE6,' 

"TIIE  WOODVILLE  STORIES,"  "THE  BOAT-CLUB  STORIES,"  "TUB 

STARRY  FLAG  SERIES,"  "  TIIE  LAKE-SHORE 

SERIES,"  ETC. 


WITH  FOURTEEN  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


BOSTON : 

LEE    AND    SHEPARD,   PUBLISHERS. 

NEW   YORK: 

LEE,   SHEPARD    AND   DILLINGHAM. 

1873. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871, 

By  WILLIAM  T.  ADAMS, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


ELECTROTYTED  AT  TITE 

BOSTON    STEREOTYPE    FOUNDRY, 

19  Spring  Lane. 


6o 

no 


my     Youisra-    FRIEND 
FRANK    C.  FOSTER, 

OF  CANANDAIGUA,  N.  Y., 
IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


THE  TJPWAKD  AND  ONWAKD  SEEIES. 

1.  Field  and  Forest;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Farmer. 

2.  Plane  and  FlanJc  ;  or,  The  Mishaps  of  a  Mechanic. 

3.  Desk  and  Debit ;  or,  The  Catastrophes  of  a  Clerk. 

4.  Cringle   and    Cross-Tree ;    or,  The   Sea  Swashes 

of  a  Sailor. 

5.  Bivouac  and  Battle  ;  or,  The  Struggles  of  a  Soldier. 

IN  PREPARATION. 

6.  Sea  and  SJtor'e ;  or,  The  Tramps  of  a  Traveller. 


PREFACE 


"Bivouac  and  Battle"  is  the  fifth  of  the  Onward  and 
Upward  Series,  in  which  Phil  Farringford  appears  as  a  soldier. 
The  events  of  the  story  are  located  in  New  York,  on  the  Atlan- 
tic, in  England,  and  at  the  seat  of  war  in  Italy  in  1859.  The 
hero  continues  to  be  a  Christian  young  man,  who  labors  to 
make  his  life  an  upward  and  onward  progress,  even  while  his 
adventures  are  stirring  and  exciting;  though  perhaps  it  is  more 
difficult  to  be  honest,  upright,  and  noble  in  the  dull  monotony 
of  an  uneventful  career  than  in  one  filled  with  changing  inci- 
dents, and  checkered  with  life's  vicissitudes.  Whatever  hap- 
pens to  Phil,  he  is  always  true  to  himself,  true  to  his  friends, 
and  true  to  his  God. 

Larry  Grimsby  appears  at  first  as  a  reckless  young  man, 
addicted  to  the  vices  which  are  unhappily  so  often  embraced  by 
the  young,  especially  in  large  cities.  Phil  obtains  an  influence 
over  him,  by  the  events  of  the  story,  which  proves  to  be  ben- 

5 


6  PEEFACE. 

eficial  to  his  friend.  The  episode  of  Mr.  Fennimore,  the  bank 
officer,  contains  the  history  of  too  many,  in  the  present  genera- 
tion, who  are  tempted  to  do  wrong  in  the  beginning,  with  the 
intention  of  making  restitution"  at  a  future  time,  but  are  carried 
away  into  the  vortex  of  crime,  from  which  they  find  it  impos- 
sible to  escape. 

The  reader  will  doubtless  sympathize  with  Phil  Farringford 
in  the  happiness  of  seeing  his  family  united  under  one  roof,  in 
peace,  joy,  and  prosperity;  and  it  is  hoped  that  he  will  not  fail 
to  observe  that  this  result  is  achieved  by  the  practice  of  Chris- 
tian principles,  which  saved  his  father  from  intemperance,  and 
enabled  him  to  bring  his  parents  together. 

Harrison  Square,  Boston, 

November  25,  1871. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I.  PAGE 

In  which   Phil   Earringford    falls    in   with    Larry 

Grimsbt 11 

.  CHAPTER    II. 
In  which  Phil  learns   more  about  Larry  Grimsby, 

and  the  Train  arrives  at  New  York 24 

CHAPTER    III. 
In  which  Phil  completes  his  Preparations  for  the 

Voyage,  and  goes  on  Board  the  Steamer.    ...      38 

CHAPTER    IV. 
In   which   Phil   walks    about   the   Deck,  and   finds 

another  Grimsby 51 

CHAPTER    V. 
In  which  Phil  listens  to  the  Defaulter's  Story,  and 
becomes  better  acquainted  with  Blanche  Eenni- 
more 65 

CHAPTER    VI. 
In  which  Phil  has  a  melancholy  Passage  across  the 

Atlantic 80 

CHAPTER    VII. 
In  which   Phil  and  his   Friend  visit  Grimsby  Hall, 

and  are  present  at  a  melancholy  occasion.    .   .     94: 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
In  which  Phil  shows  that  he  has  a  Talent  foe  keep- 
ing still,  and  Larry  becomes  a  Hero 108 

CHAPTER    IX. 
In  which  Phil  relates  the  Story  the  Baronet  told, 

and  Larry  meets  Blanche  in  the  Garden.     .   .    .   122 

CHAPTER    X. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  go  to  London,  and  Miles 
'  Grimsby  is  very  much  excited 136 

CHAPTER    XI. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  make  the  Acquaintance  of 
a  Man  with  a  preposterous  Hat,  and  start  for 
Italy 150 

CHAPTER    XII. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry   continue   their  Journey, 

and  meet  a  french  general  of  brigade 163 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
In    which    Phil    and    Larry    become    Soldiers,    and 

spend  their  first  nlght   in  blvouac 177 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  move    forward   with   the 

Army,  and  decide  to  visit  Milan 191 

CHAPTER    XV. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  float  down  the  Canal,  and 

ARE    DISTURBED    BY    FRENCH    PlCKET    GUARDS 205 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  discuss  the  Situation,  and 

face  a  Drum-head  Court-martial 219 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

In  which  Phil  and   Larry   are   saved   from   a   hard 

Fate  by  a  Movement  of  the  Brigade 233 

•    CHAPTER    XVIII. 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  solve  a  Problem,  and  the 

Italian  makes  a  bad  Move 246 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
In  which  Phil  invents  and  launches  an  Aquatic  Ma- 
chine,   AND   PREPARES    TO    CROSS    THE    TlCINO 260 

CHAPTER    XX.   \ 
In  which  Phil  and  Larry  take  Part  in   the   Battle 

of  Magenta,  and  visit  Milan 273 

CHAPTER    XXI. 
In   which    Phil   is    identified   by    his    Mother,   and 

Larry  goes  to  England 286 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
In   which    Phil   remonstrates  with   Larry,  who   de- 
cides to  go  up  in  a  Balloon 300 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 
In  which   Phil   is    very    anxious    about    Larry,  who 

has  a  perilous  adventure  in  the  balloon.  .   .    .   314 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 
In  which  Phil   and   Larry   visit  Grimsby    Hall,  and 

return  to  america 327 


BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE; 

OR, 

THE    STRUGGLES    OF   A    SOLDIER 


CHAPTER  I. 

IN  WHICH  PHIL   FARRINGFORD   FALLS  IN  WITH  LARRY 
GRIMSBY. 

"ELP!    Help!" 

I  uttered  these  impressive  words  myself, 
for  I  felt  that  my  lamp  of  life  was  on  the  point 
of  being  extinguished.  I  had  struggled  till  my 
strength  was  exhausted,  and  I  had  lost  all  hope  of 
being  able  to  extricate  myself  from  the  perilous 
sitijation  in  which  -I  was  placed. 

Unfortunately,  railroad  accidents  are  too  com- 
mon in  the  United  States  to  need  a  detailed  de- 
scription. I  was  on  my  way  from  St.  Louis  to 
New  York,  intending  to  embark  in  a  steamer  for 
Europe.  I  was  tired  of  the  monotony  of  the  rail- 
road train,  and  only  anxious  to  reach  my  destina- 

11 


12  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

tion.  It  was  the  last  day  of  the  long  journey, — 
longer  then  than  now,  —  and  late  in  the  evening  I 
expected  to  be  in  the  great  city ;  but  our  best  laid 
calculations  often  end  in  defeat  and  disaster.  I 
had  bought  a  book  of  the  boy  who  frequently 
passed  through  the  train  with  a  bundle  of  literary 
merchandise.  The  work  was  David  Copperfield, 
and  I  was  following  with  intense  interest  the  for- 
tunes of  the  hero,  when  suddenly  I  heard  a  crash- 
ing sound  under  us,  as  the  cars  were  crossing  a 
bridge.  The  structure  had  given  way,  and  the 
carriage  dropped  down  into  the  stream. 

In  another  instant  the  passengers  were  strug- 
gling in  the  water,  which,  in  the  part  where  I  was, 
rose  nearly  to  the  ceiling  thereof.  I  had  so  often 
confronted  danger  and  disaster,  that  I  did  not 
regard  the  situation  as  at  all  desperate.  I  stood 
on  the  seat,  and  thus  elevated  my  head  above  the 
water.  I  had  been  sitting  by  a  window.  It  was 
one  of  the  earliest  days  in  May,  and  the  weather 
was  remarkably  warm.  During  the  hour  preceding 
the  disaster,  I  had  raised  the  sash  a  dozen  times  ; 
but  the  fastenings  were  out  of  order,  and  it  would 
persist  in  coming  down  with  a  smash  as  often  as  I 
adjusted  it.     I  had  tried  to  wedge  it  up  with  a  roll 


: 


THE   STRUGGLES    0~F   A   SOLDIER.  13 

of  paper;  but  this  experiment  had  failed,  and  I 
was  so  much  interested  in  Copperfield,  that  I 
abandoned  further  attempts  to  supply  myself  with 
fresh  air  for  the  moment. 

Stooping  down  from  my  standing  position  on  the 
chair,  I  raised  the  window  ;  but  the  upper  part  of 
the  aperture  was  at  least  a  foot  under  water.  I 
heard  people  at  work  on  the  roof  with  axes,  cut- 
ting a  hole  through  which  the  passengers  might 
make  their  escape  ;  but  I  was  afraid  the  service 
would  be  rendered  too  late  for  some  of  them.  My 
end  of  the  car  was  sunk  deeper  than  the  other  in 
the  water ;  but  the  passengers  were  crowded 
together  in  that  part,  and  the  door  there  seemed 
to  be  obstructed  by  the  debris  of  the  shattered 
carriages  in  the  rear.  My  impulse,  therefore,  was 
to  effect  my  exit  from  the  dangerous  situation  by 
the  window  nearest  to  me. 

Having  lifted  the  sash,  the  way  seemed  to  be 
clear  and  practicable,  as  I  was  a  strong  and  skilful 
swimmer,  and  was  almost  as  much  at  home  in  the 
water  as  on  the  land.  But  that  window,  which  had 
vexed  me  so  much  while  I  was  reading,  was 
destined  to  give  me  more-  serious  trouble  than 
before.    Holding  the  sash  with  my  hand,  I  dropped 


14  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

my  head  quickly  under  the  surface  of  the  water, 
thrust  it  through  the  open  window,  and  crowded 
my  body  after  it.  Of  course,  in  doing  this  I  was 
obliged  to  release  my  hold  of  the  sash.  Springing 
for  the  surface  of  the  water  outside  of  the  car,  I 
believed  my  individual  trials  nearly  at  an  end. 
Unluckily,  the  sash  was  loose  enough  to  fall  by  its 
own  weight  even  in  the  water,  and  in  spite  of  the 
swelling  of  the  wood-work,  which  it  must  have 
caused.  It  dropped  upon  my  legs,  and  shut  down 
tightly  upon  my  ankles  in  such  a  way  that  I 
found  it  quite  impossible  to  release  them  from 
its  grip. 

In  vain  I  twisted  my  body,  squirmed,  and  strug- 
gled. The  sash  seemed  to  be  wedged  immovably 
upon  my  legs.  The  end  of  the  car  also  appeared 
to  be  sinking  deeper  in  the  water,  and  with  my 
utmost  efforts  I  could  only  occasionally  get  my 
head  to  the  surface  of  the  river  for  a  breath  of  air. 
I  felt  that  my  last  moment  on  earth  had  come,  and 
having  shouted  for  help,  I  commended  my  soul  to 
God,  and  prayed  for  my  father  and  mother,  that 
they  might  be  reunited,  in  a  single  phrase.  The 
men  who  were  cutting  the  hole  in  the  top  of  the 
car  did  not  seem  to  see  me ;  but  after  I  had  cried 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.        15 

for  assistance,  I  was  conscious  that  some  one 
came  to  the  edge  of  the  roof,  near  me.  I  strug- 
gled again. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  was  the  question  that 
hardly  penetrated  my  semi-conscious  brain. 

I  could  make  no  reply  ;  I  could  only  gasp,  as  I 
succeeded  for  an  instant  in  getting  my  mouth  to 
the  surface  again. 

"  Help  !     Help  !  " 

My  friend  on  the  top  dropped  into  the  water. 
I  felt  his  hand  upon  my  legs,  but  it  was  still  some 
time  before  he  succeeded  in  releasing  me,  for  he 
was  obliged  to  operate  under  the  surface  of  the 
stream.  He  worked  my  deliverance  at  last,  and  I 
rose  into  the  free  air  of  heaven.  My  strength  was 
all  gone ;  I  had  not  even  enough  left  to  climb  to 
the  roof  of  the  carriage  ;  and  I  should  certainly 
have  sunk  and  perished  if  my  deliverer  had  not 
grasped  me  with  his  strong  arm,  and  dragged  me 
upon  the  top  of  the  car.  The  end  which  had  been 
the  scene  of  my  struggles  was  now  partially  sub- 
merged ;  but  I  sat  down  near  the  verge  of  the 
water,  to  recover  my  exhausted  energies. 

By  this  time  the  axe-men  had  made  a  hole  large 
enough  to  permit  the  passage  of  the  unfortunate 


16  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

passengers  beneath  me.  My  strength  came  back 
to  me  in  a  few  moments,  and  I  walked  to  the 
shore.  I  had  the  consolation  of  seeing  and  know- 
ing, that  if  I  had  remained  in  the  car,  as  my  com- 
panions had  done,  I  should  have  been  saved  with- 
out a  struggle  for  myself.  Happily,  in  this  instance 
not  a  single  passenger  was  killed,  though  several 
were  more  or  less  injured.  A  poor  brakeman  was 
instantly  deprived  of  life  by  being  crushed  in  the 
falling  train.  As  soon  as  I  recovered  my  powers 
of  mind  and  body,  I  began  to  look  about  me  with 
interest  for  the  brave  and  unselfish  fellow  who 
had  saved  my  life.  He  had  accomplished  it  at  no 
little  peril  and  effort,  and  my  gratitude  for  my 
preservation  was  unbounded.  I  thanked  God 
with  all  my  heart  for  his  goodness  to  me,  for  I  felt 
that  I  owed  my  safety  first  to  him,  and  next  to  my 
gallant  friend.  I  discovered  him  still  busy  in  his 
wet  garments,  rendering  assistance  to  the  injured 
and  terrified  passengers.  As  I  was  now  com- 
pletely restored,  I  felt  able  to  do  something  my- 
self. I  worked  for  half  an  hour,  till  we  had  done 
everything  within  our  means  for  the  comfort  of 
the  injured. 

The  forward  part   of  the  train,  including   the 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A  SOLDIER.  17 

baggage  and  two  passenger  cars,  had  crossed  the 
bridge  in  safety,  while  two  more  had  fallen 
through  the  broken  timbers.  One  of  these  was 
almost  a  total  wreck,  and  was  now  half  under 
water,  while  the  other  rested  half  on  the  bridge 
and  half  in  the  stream. 

I  went  to  the  baggage  car,  and  found  my  trunk, 
from  which  I  took  a  change  of  clothing,  and  put 
it  on  in  the  smoking-car  saloon.  The  conductor 
had  sent  the  engine  and  tender  forward  to  the 
next  considerable  station  for  assistance,  and  in 
due  time  it  returned  with  a  large  gang  of  men 
and  several  cars.  Another  train  was  soon  made 
up  after  its  arrival,  and  in  three  hours  from  the 
accident  we  were  again  on  our  way  to  New  York. 
As  soon  as  the  cars  started,  I  sought  again  for  my 
deliverer,  whose  labors  were  now  ended.  I  did 
not  find  him  at  first,  but  I  walked  through  the 
train  till  I  discovered  him,  seated  alone  in  front 
of  one  who  had  been  injured  by  the  calamity, 
whom  he  seemed  to  have  in  charge. 

"  My  friend,  I  owe  you  a  debt  of  gratitude 
which  I  shall  never  be  able  to  discharge,"  I 
began. 

"  You  ?  Ton  my  word,  I  don't  know  that  I 
2 


18  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

ever  saw  you  before  in  my  life,"  replied  he,  open- 
ing his  eyes,  and  looking  at  me  all  over. 

"  Indeed  !  Don't  you  remember  that  you 
rescued  me  at  the  car  window,  when  I  was  com- 
plete^7 used  up?" 

"  0,  are  you  the  individual  ?  No,  you  are  not ; 
he  was  dressed  in  light  clothes." 

"  But  I  was  wet  and  uncomfortable,  and  I 
changed  my  dress." 

"That's  it!  Well,  you  look  like  the  fellow  I 
helped  out.  By  the  way,  that  was  an  odd  kind  of 
a  scrape  you  got  into." 

"  It  was,  indeed  ;  and  without  your  help,  I 
should  not  have  been  among  the  living  at  this 
moment." 

11  So  ?  "  said  he,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  speak  'only  the  literal  truth.  I  assure  you 
my  heart  is  full  of  gratitude  to  you  for  your  noble 
efforts  in  my  behalf." 

"  0,  never  mind  that.  A  fellow  can't  help  doing 
what  he  can  for  one  that  needs  his  assistance  in 
such  a  scrape  as  that.  This  is  the  third  time  in 
five  years  I  have  been  smashed  on  a  railroad  train, 
and  never  had  a  hair  of  my  head  damaged.  'Pon 
my  word,  I'm  getting  used  to  such  things,  and  if 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.        19 

I  have  many  more,  I  shall  learn  to  enjoy  the  ex- 
citement of  them.     Going  to  New  York  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  So  am  I." 

"  Then  I  hope  I  shall  see  more  of  you,  and  be 
able  to  express  my  gratitude  to  you,  at  least,  if  I 
am  not  permitted  to  do  anything  more." 

"  Never  mind  that,  Mr.  Jones  ;  don't  say  another 
word  about  it.  I  hate  gratitude ;  and  if  you  had 
saved  my  life,  I  don't  believe  I  should  feel  a  bit 
of  gratitude." 

"  However  you  may  feel,  I  am  certainly  very 
grateful  to  you,  and  I  shall  never  forget,  or  cease 
to  appreciate,  your  service  to  me." 

"  Don't  do  it,  Mr.  Jones.  As  a  special  favor  to 
me,  forget  all  about  it,  and  cease  at  once  to  ap- 
preciate, and  all  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  I  cannot  be  so  heartless,  my  friend." 

"  Try,  Mr.  Jones  ;  try.  I  hate  to  place  any  one 
under  obligations  to  me." 

"  I  certainly  will  not  burden  you  with  the  ex- 
pression of  my  gratitude,  since  it  is  offensive  to 
you  ;  but  I  cannot  help  feeling  it." 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Jones  ;  I  don't  care  what 
you  feel,  if  you  don't  compel  me  to  feel  it,  too," 


20  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

laughed  he.  "  You  seem  to  be  a  good  fellow,  Mr. 
Jones." 

"  My  name  is  Farringford." 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Farringford,  for  I  have  a  habit 
of  calling  everybody  Jones  when  I  don't  know  his 
name.  I'm  not  a  Yankee  ;  but  I  have  a  habit  of 
asking  questions.  I  dare  say  Farringford  is  not 
all  your  name." 

"  Not  quite.  My  first  name  is  Philip ;  but  my 
intimate  friends  usually  call  me  Phil." 

"  That's  a  capital  name  ;  and  as  I  claim  to  be 
your  intimate  friend,  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  call 
you  Phil,  for  I  can't  afford  to  utter  anybody's  name 
when  it  consists  of  three  syllables.  I  can  get  off 
two  very  well,  but  I  always  break  down  on  three. 
My  name  is  Lawrence  Grimsby,  but  everybody 
that  knows  me  calls  me  Larry ;  and  you  will  oblige 
me  by  adopting  the  custom  of  my  intimates. 
Larry,  at  your  service.  What's  this  ?  "  asked  he, 
as  the  train  began  to  break  up. 

It  was  an  important  station,  and  our  car  stopped 
directly  before  the  refreshment  saloon.  Larry  rose 
in  his  seat,  and  looked  out  at  the  window. 

"  That's  a  refreshment  saloon,"  said  he. 

"  Yes  ;  there  is  the  sign." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  21 

"  Phil,  you're  evidently  a  good  fellow,"  he 
added,  looking  at  me,  though  I  could  perceive  a 
peculiar  embarrassment  in  his  manner. 

"  I  try  to  do  my  duty  to  myself  and  my  friends/' 
I  replied. 

"  I  thought  so.  I  shall  do  you  the  honor  to  let 
you  pay  for  a  light  lunch  for  me.  I'm  hungry, 
and  I'm  dead  broke  —  two  things  as  consistent 
with  each  other  as  they  are  annoying  and  uncom- 
fortable to  me." 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  Larry  —  " 

"  Hold  on,  Phil  !  Don't  you  go  to  dearing  me  ; 
I  won't  stand  it ;  and  if  you  do  so,  'pon  my  word  I 
won't  let  you  disburse  a  red  cent  for  me." 

"  Come  along,  Larry.  You  shall  have  your  own 
will  in  everything,"  I  answered,  leading  the  way 
out  of  the  car,  and  into  the  refreshment  saloon. 

His  humor  was  so  peculiar  that  I  dared  not  say 
anything  more  to  give  vent  to  my  feelings.  I  was 
absolutely  shocked  when  he  said  he  was  hungry, 
and  had  no  money.  My  heart  swelled  with  emo- 
tion, and  even  my  eyes  were  disposed  to  shed  a 
few  tears ;  for  it  was  really  horrible  to  think  of 
my  deliverer  being  actually  hungry.  I  would 
have    given  him   my   purse   at   once,  and  I  was 


22  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,    OR 

burning  to  pour  out  my  gratitude  in  words,  but  I 
dared  not  do  either.  It  was  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon,  and  I  had  dined  about  two  o'clock,  so 
that  I  was  not  hungry  myself.  Probably  for  the 
want  of  funds  he  had  not  dined  at  all,  or  he  could 
not  have  been  in  his  present  condition  in  a  couple 
of  hours.  He  ate  oysters,  hard-boiled  eggs,  cold 
ham,  pies  and  cakes,  like  one  who  had  not  tasted 
food  for  twenty -four  hours. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  Phil,"  said  he,  as  he  con- 
tinued his  meal  with  unabated  relish. 

"  I  am  not  alarmed,"  I  replied,  as  I  took  a  piece 
of  cake,  rather  for  the  sociability  of  eating  with 
him  than  because  I  wanted  it.  "  Help  yourself, 
and  be  entirely  at  home." 

"  I  hope  your  funds  are  in  good  condition, 
Phil,"  laughed  he. 

"  In  very  good  condition,  indeed." 

"  I'm  an  odd  stick,  Phil,  and  don't  eat  every 
day  in  the  week." 

"You  don't!" 

"  Of  course  not.  It  would  be  a  waste  of  time  ; 
but  when  I  do  eat,  I  make  a  business  of  it,  for  I 
may  not  think  it  worth  while  to  do  this  thing 
again  for  a  day  or  two." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        23 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  Because  it  doesn't  pay  to  keep  eating  all  the 
time.  Your  jolly  old  philosopher,  Dr.  Franklin, 
got  up  a  calculation  of  the  vast  quantity  of  grub 
that  a  useless  fellow  consumes ;  but  he  didn't 
figure  up  the  time  that  is  wasted  in  dining-rooms 
and  refreshment  saloons." 

"  I  don't  think  the  people  of  this  country  waste 
any  time  at  their  meals." 

"  A  very  just  observation,  Phil.  Possibly,  if  I 
always  found  a  dollar  in  my  pocket  when  I  put 
my  hand  into  it,  I  might  alter  my  views,"  added 
Larry,  with  a  sickly  smile,  as  the  bell  rang  for  the 
train  to  start.  "  That  means  you  and  me.  I've 
eaten  all  I  want.  Humph  !  I  may  not  do  it  again 
for  a  week." 

I  paid  the  bill,  which  amounted  to  one  dollar 
and  forty  cents,  with  a  pleasure  I  cannot  express, 
and  we  took  our  seats  in  the  train  again. 


24  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  II. 

IN  WHICH  PHIL  LEARNS  MORE  ABOUT  LARRY  GRIMSBY, 
AND   THE   TRAIN   ARRIVES   AT   NEW   YORK. 

I  HAVE  introduced  the  railroad  accident,  which" 
is  too  common  an  event  to  be  a  novelty,  in 
order  solely  to  present  Larry  Grimsby  to  my 
friends.  I  am  sure,  if  I  had  met  him  under  any 
other  circumstances,  I  should  not  have  thought  of 
making  his  acquaintance.  He  was  a  young  man 
of  eighteen  or  nineteen,  which  was  about  my  own 
age.  Physically  he  was  well  formed,  and  his  face 
was  rather  a  good-looking  one  ;  but  here,  to  a  casual 
observer  of  my  own  tastes  and  habits,  his  attrac- 
tions would  have  ceased.  He  was  well  dressed, 
but  his  appearance  was  rather  flashy.  His  pants 
were  of  light  material,  with  an  enormous  plaid 
upon  them.  His  vest  was  marked  with  an  absurd 
perpendicular  stripe,  and  his  coat  was  of  light 
green,  cut  in  the  jauntiest  style  of  the  time. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        25 

Although,  under  other  circumstances,  he  was 
not  a  person  whose  acquaintance  I  should  have 
sought,  I  realized  that  he  was  a  noble  fellow  at 
heart.  If  there  had  been  no  railroad  accident,  I 
might  have  despised  him  as  long  as  I  remembered 
him,  for  the  "  cut  of  his  jib  "  prejudiced  me  against 
him.  For  a  young  man,  he  was  a  very  eccentric 
one.  While  he  objected  to  any  expression  of 
gratitude  on  my  part,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  ask 
me  to  pay  for  his  lunch.  Independent  of  the 
priceless  service  he  had  rendered  me,  I  confess 
that  I  felt  a  deep  interest  in  him.  He  acknowl- 
edged that  he  had  not  even  money  enough  to  pay 
for  his  dinner,  and,  after  his  fashion,  had  declared 
that  he  did  not  expect  to  have  another  meal  for  a 
day  or  two.  I  looked  at  him,  and  tried  to  make 
up  my  mind  what  he  was ;  but  he  was  a  problem 
to  me,  and  I  could  not  fathom  him. 

"  I  feel  better,  Phil,"  said  he,  as  we  resumed  our 
seats  in  the  car. 

"  I  should  think  you  would,  if  you  had  not  been 
to  dinner,"  I  replied,  hoping  to  draw  him  out. 

"  I  certainly  had  not  been  to  dinner,  and  hardly 
to  breakfast.  I  haven't  even  one  cent  of  money, 
or  anything  that   I  can   turn   into  money.     I  sold 


26  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,    OR 

my  watch  in  Buffalo  to  obtain  the  means  to  pay 
my  fare  to  New  York." 

"  But  you  have  friends?  " 

"  Certainly  I  have ;  and  you  are  one  of  them." 

"  I  mean  relatives." 

"  Humph  !  Not  that  I  am  aware  of,"  he  replied, 
lightly. 

"  Where  do  you  belong  ?  " 

"  I  belong  here." 

"  You  have  a  home  somewhere,  I  mean." 

"  A  home  !  "  exclaimed  he,  with  a  laugh. 
"What's  that?" 

'•  Of  course  you  know  what  a  home  is." 

"  Can't  say  I  do,  Phil." 

"  Did  you  never  have  a  home  ?  " 

"  Never  a  home  ;  of  late  years,  at  least." 

"Have  you  no  father  and  mother?"  I  asked, 
my  interest  in  the  young  man  increasing  every 
moment. 

"  Never  saw  or  heard  of  any  such  individuals." 

"  My  dear  fellow  —  " 

"  Hold  on,  Phil ;  I  don't  want  any  one  sym- 
pathizing with  me.  I  don't  need  it.  I  never 
had  any  father  or  mother,  so  far  as  I  know,  nor 
a  relative,  nor  any  other  person  who  cared   a  fi^ 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  27 

for  me,  and  I  don't  know  but  I  have  been  the 
gainer  by  it." 

"  I  think  not,"  I  replied,  shaking  my  head. 

"  Perhaps  you  know  better  than  I." 

"  It  is  reasonable  that  a  young  man  should  be 
the  better  for  a  mother's  influence  and  a  father's 
care.  One's  parents  usually  teach  him  the  ways 
of  morality  and  truth,  give  him  his  religious 
impressions  —  " 

"  I  don't  believe  in  any  of  those  things,  and 
don't  trouble  my  head  at  all  about  them." 

"  You  shock  me." 

"  Do  I  ?  "  laughed  he. 

"  You  do,  indeed.  Don't  you  believe  in  re- 
ligion ?  " 

"  I  believe  there  is  such  a  thing,  but  it  don't 
trouble  me,  and  I  don't  trouble  religion.  I  do 
about  what  is  right  when  it  is  convenient." 

"  I  am  sure  you  would  think  more  of  religion, 
and  that  you  would  desire  to  do  what  is  right, 
even  when  it  is  not  wholly  convenient,  if  you  had 
had  a  good  mother  to  teach  you  the  way  of  life 
and  truth." 

"  Don't  preach,  Phil;  it's  worse  than  gratitude  and 
sympathy.    I'm  not  a  perfect  young  man,  I  know." 


28  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  Where  were  you  born,  Larry  ?  " 
"  I  don't  know ;  I  haven't  the  least  idea." 
"  But  you  had  a  beginning  somewhere." 
"I  was  a  graduate  from  an1  orphan  asylum  when 
I  was  eight  years  old.  An  old  lady  saw  me  there, 
and  thought  I  was  a  pretty  boy ;  so  she  took  me 
home  with  her.  She  gave  me  a  very  good  educa- 
tion, and  I  staid  with  her  till  I  was  fourteen  years 
old.  She  always  used  me  well,  and  taught  me 
piety,  catechism,  and  religion,  which  I  got  rid  of 
as  soon  as  possible.  I  supposed  the  old  lady,  who 
had  plenty  of  money,  would  leave  me  her  fortune ; 
but  she  didn't  do  it ;  and  since  that  I  have  been  a 
sceptic  on  the  subject  of  gratitude.  I  had  allowed 
her  to  spend  her  money  on  me,  in  feeding,  cloth- 
ing, and  educating  me,  and  then  she  was  so  cruel 
as  to  die  without  making  a  will  in  my  favor,  or  of 
anybody  else,  for  that  matter.  As  soon  as  the 
breath  had  left  her  body,  about  a  dozen  and  a  half 
of  nephews  and  nieces  stepped  in,  and  in  due  time 
her  money  was  equally  divided  among  them.  Not 
a  penny  gladdened  the  interior  of  my  purse." 

"  Perhaps   she   intended   to   do   something   for 
you." 

"  I  think  she  did ;  and  the  ingratitude  was  in 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  29 

the  neglect  to  do  it.  She  died  suddenly,  and 
never  knew  a  thing  after  she  was  taken  sick,  so 
that  my  wheels  were  blocked.  Not  one  of  the 
nieces  and  nephews  even  looked  at  me  ;  and  when 
the  old  lady's  house  was  sold,  I  was  turned  out 
into  the  street.  Since  then  I  have  been  a  wander- 
er on  the  face  of  the  footstool." 

"  But  what  did  you  do  with  yourself?  "  I  asked. 

'•  I  found  a  place  to  work  in  a  store ;  but  I  didn't 
like  it,  and  then  I  learned  the  printing  business. 
I  work  as  a  jour  printer  now,  when  I  work  at  all.  I 
have  been  cruising  about  the  west  for  the  last  year. 
I  work  a  while  in  one  place,  and  then  move  on 
to  another.  1  subbed  a  while  in  Buffalo,  and  then 
got  cut  of  a  job,  and  had  to  sell  my  watch,  as  I 
said,  to  enable  me  to  get  to  New  York." 

"  Don't  you  know  anything  about  your  parents  ?  " 

"  Not  a  thing ;  and  I  haven't  the  least  idea  how 
I  happened  to  be  in  the  orphan  asylum.  To  tell 
the  truth,  Phil,  I  don't  care  a  fig,  either.  If  my 
parents  didn't  want  me,  I'm  sure  I  don't  want 
them.  If  I  could  know  who  they  were  for  the 
asking,  I  wouldn't  open  my  mouth.  That's  so, 
Phil." 

"  You  are  a  strange  being,  Larry." 


30  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  know  it ;  and  I  would  just  as  lief  live  as  die." 

«  So  would  I." 

"  Well,  put  it  the  other  way  ;  I  had  just  as  lief 
die  as  live.  I  don't  know  that  I  care  a  straw  for 
anything  in  this  world  —  or  any  other,  for  that 
matter,"  laughed  he.     "  Who  are  you,  Phil  ?  " 

I  answered  this  blunt  inquiry,  though  it  re- 
quired a  couple  of  hours  to  satisfy  his  curiosity,  for 
he  questioned  me  very  closely.  I  told  him  that  I 
had  been  brought  up  in  a  cabin  on  the  Upper 
Missouri,  where  I  had  only  a  rough  backwoodsman 
for  a  companion  for  several  years ;  that  I  had 
found  my  father  in  St.  Louis,  who  had  separated 
from  my  mother,  and  that  I  intended  to  visit 
Europe  in  order  to  find  her  if  possible.  He 
drew  out  of  me  all  the  particulars  of  my  eventful 
history. 

"  Then  you  are  as  rich  as  mud,  Phil." 

"  Not  very  rich." 

"  I  figure  up  that  you  have  three  or  four  thou- 
sand dollars  in  your  own  right." 

"  That  isn't  much."  .     - 

"  I'm  nineteen,  but  I  never  had  fifty  dollars  in 
my  life  at  one  time." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  not  careful  of  your  money." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.         31 

"  I'm  careful  to  spend  it  as  soon  as  I  get  it. 
That's  what  money  is  for." 

•'•  But  you  can't  have  it  and  spend  it  too." 

*'  I'm  not  a  miser." 

"  Nor  I,  any  more  than  you.  I  spend  money  for 
what  I  need,  and  save  the  rest.  In  that  way  I 
gathered  my  little  pile." 

I  took  out  my  purse,  which  contained  twenty- 
two  half  eagles ;  for  at  the  time  of  which  I  write 
there  was  no  national  currency,  that  was  good  in 
all  the  states,  and  I  had  changed  my  money  into 
gold  before  I  left  the  west,  for  the  bank  bills  of 
one  section  of  the  country  were  subject  to  a  dis- 
count in  other  sections.  I  turned  the  coins  out 
into  my  hand,  and  Larry  watched  me  with  in- 
terest. Taking  twenty  of  the  half  eagles,  or  one 
hundred  dollars,  I  handed  them  to  him. 

"  Put  them  in  your  pocket,"  I  added. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  he,  taking  the 
money  into  his  hand. 

"  Put  them  in  your  pocket,"  I  repeated.  "  Possi- 
bly,, when  you  get  to  New  York,  you  will  find  time 
to  eat  a  dinner  or  two ;  and  you  will  need  some  of 
this  coin  to  pay  the  bill." 

"  Do  I  understand  you  to  say  that  you  make  me 
a  present  of  these  shiners  ?  " 


32  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Precisely  so ;  that's  just  what  I  mean,  if 
you  will  allow  me  to  state  it  in  that  offensive 
manner." 

"  I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart,"  said  he,  but 
without  much  emotion.  "  I  never  was  so  rich 
before  in  my  life.  You  do  not  state  on  what 
grounds  you  do  this  magnificent  thing." 

"  Simply  because  you  are  a  good  fellow,  Larry," 
I  replied,  mindful  of  his  instruction  in  regard  to 
gratitude. 

"  That  is  all-sufficient  ground.  By  the  way, 
Phil,  I  helped  a  dozen  people  after  the  accident, 
and  you  are  the  only  one  who  has  offered  me  a 
cent  for  my  trouble." 

"  Why,  you  would  not  have  them  attempt  to  pay 
you  for  such  service." 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  I  dare  say  they  are  all  very  grateful  to  you  for 
what  you  did." 

"  I  don't  believe  they  are ;  and  I  hope  they  are 
not.  Never  mind  them.  The  railroad  accident 
was  the  luckiest  thing  that  has  happened  for  me 
in  the  whole  course  of  my  life,"  continued  Larry, 
as  he  chinked  the  coins  in  his  hand,  and  then  put 
them  in  his  pocket.  "  To  what  hotel  do  you  go  in 
New  York,  Phil?" 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        33 

"  I  thought  I  should  go  to  the  Western  Hotel." 

"  That's  not  first-class." 

"  The  prices  are  not  first-class,  either,"  I  added. 

"  But  you  have  plenty  of  money,  unless  you 
have  robbed  yourself  to  enrich  a  good  fellow." 

"  I  have  ten  or  a  dozen  dollars  left,"  I  replied. 

"  But  I  will  give  you  back  half  or  all  you  gave 
me,  if  you  have  made  yourself  short." 

"  No,  no  ;  I  have  a  draft  for  over  two  thou- 
sand dollars  to  pay  my  expenses  in  Europe. 
Don't  trouble  yourself  about  the  little  matter  I 
gave  you." 

"  I  won't,"  said  he,  laughing.  "  But  I  thought 
I  should  go  to  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  now  that  I 
have  my  pile." 

"  You  will  have  to  pay  two  or  three  dollars 
a  day." 

"  What  of  it,  when  a  fellow  has  a  hundred  dol- 
lars in  hard  shiners  in  his  trousers  pocket?" 

"  You  won't  have  them,  or  any  of  them,  long,  if 
you  do  business  in  that  way,  Larry.  What  hotel 
were  you  going  to  if  you  had  not  met  me  ?  " 

"  To  none ;  I  should  have  gone  to  a  cheap 
boarding-house,  and  then  looked  out  for  a  job  in  a 
printing  office.  But  I  won't  be  odd,  Phil.  If  )tou 
3 


34  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

are  going  to  the  Western  Hotel,  I  will  go  with 
you,  though  it  isn't  first-class." 

"  I  dare  say  it  is  quite  as  good  as  your  cheap 
boarding-house  would  have  been,"  I  replied. 

"  No  doubt  of  that ;  but  circumstances  alter 
cases,  and  even  change  printers'  cases  some- 
times." 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  find  a  place  to  work 
when  you  get  to  New  York." 

"  Humph  !  I  don't  know,"  he  answered,  measur- 
ing off  the  words  very  slowly.  "  I  shall  not  look 
for  any  place." 

"  Not  look  for  any  ! "  I  exclaimed. 

"  No,  I  think  not." 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  have  plenty  of  money  in  my  pocket  now," 
laughed  he.  "  When  it  is  gone,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  go  to  work." 

"  That's  very  bad  philosophy,"  I  protested,  em- 
phatically. 

"  0,  dear,  Phil,  I'm  no  philosopher.  It  would  be 
quite  impossible  for  me  to  go  to  work  with  even 
five  dollars  in  my  pocket." 

"  Then  you  are  a  regular  vagabond,  Larry." 

"  Phil,   give   me    your    hand ! "    exclaimed  he, 


THE  STEUGGLES   OF  A  SOLDIER.  35 

grasping  mine.  "You  have  hit  the  nail  on  the 
head,  exactly.     I  am  a  regular  vagabond." 

"  But  I  wonld  not  be  a  vagabond,  nor  allow  any 
one  to  call  me  by  such  a  name." 

"I  always  speak  the  truth  myself  when  it  is 
convenient ;  and  I  never  object  when  anybody 
else  does  so.  Here's  a  station,  Phil,  and  the 
train  is  stopping.  Let's  get  out,  and  stretch  our 
legs." 

We  left  the  car.  It  was  a  large  town,  and 
the  train  stopped  at  the  side  of  a  street,  on 
which  there  were  hotels,  saloons,  and  stores  of 
various  kinds. 

"  Here  we  are,  Phil.  That's  just  what  I  was 
looking  for." 

"  What  ?  " 

"A  bar-room.  I  was  going  to  ask  you  to  pay 
for  a  glass  of  brandy  for  me  ;  but —  " 

"  It  would  have  been  of  no  use  to  ask  me,  for  no 
amount  of  gratitude,  or  anything  else,  could  have 
induced  me  to  do  such  a  thing." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  " 

"  That's  so ;  most  emphatically,  decidedly,  and 
unalterably  so." 

"  You   interrupted   what   I   was    saying.     You 


36  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

have  put  me  in  funds,  and  I  was  going  to  treat- 
Come  along,  Phil.  You  can  take  a  glass  of  wine, 
if  brandy  don't  agree  with  your  constitution." 

"  Not  a  drop  of  anything  for  me/' 

"  You  are  not  going  to  make  me  drink  alone  — 
are  you  ?  " 

"  Alone  if  at  all,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,"  I 
replied. 

"  Take  lemonade  then,  or  some  other  slops." 

"  I  will  not  even  enter  a  bar-room." 

"  Ton  my  word,  Phil,  I  didn't  think  so  good  a 
fellow  as  you  are  could  be  a  fanatic." 

"  I  am  a  fanatic  on  that  subject,  and  I  mean  to 
be  one  to  the  end  of  my  days." 

"  It's  mean  to  drink  alone." 

"  Don't  do  it  then.  We  will  take  a  cup  of  coffee, 
if  you  like." 

"  All  right ;  coffee  it  is,  Phil." 

We  drank  coffee,  and  I  paid  for  it.  When  we 
returned  to  the  train,  I  laid  down  my  principles  in 
detail,  illustrating  them  with  the  sad  example  of 
my  father.  Larry  only  laughed  at  me  for  my 
pains.  I  was  sorry  to  find  that  the  jaunty  coat, 
the  striped  vest,  and  the  plaid  pants  had  not 
belied  my  new  friend.     I  had  the  satisfaction  of 


THE  STEUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.        37 

believing  that  the  hundred  dollars  I  had  pre- 
sented to  him  would  be  expended  in  a  few  days 
in  extravagant  living,  drinks,  and  dissipation  gen- 
erally. I  was  sorry  I  had  been  so  liberal ;  and 
while  I  was  still  very  grateful  to  Larry,  I  was 
almost  disgusted  with  him. 

In  the  small  hours  of  the  morning,  four  hours 
behind  time,  the  train  arrived  at  New  York,  and 
we  made  our  way  to  the  Western  Hotel. 


38  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 


CHAPTER  III. 

IN    WHICH    PHIL    COMPLETES    HIS    PREPAEATIONS    FOR 
THE   VOYAGE,   AND    GOES   ON   BOARD   THE   STEAMER. 

WAS  grieved  and  mortified  to  find  that  my 
new  friend  was  a  young  man  of  no  principle, 
a  vagabond,  and,  for  aught  I  knew,  a  drunkard. 
The  great  service  he  had  rendered  to  me  kept 
prominent  in  my  mind  the  nobler  attributes  of  his 
nature ;  but  I  could  not  conceal  from  myself  the 
simple  truth  that  he  was  a  worthless  fellow.  I 
had  talked  to  him  very  faithfully,  but  with  no 
result  whatever,  for  he  only  laughed  at  me.  I  do 
not  mean  to  say  that  I  "  preached  "  to  him,  or  any- 
thing of  that  sort;  but  as  the  events  of  our  in- 
timac}^  brought  the  topics  to  our  attention,  I  ex- 
pressed my  convictions  without  reserve. 

I  could  not  believe  that  he  was  a  bad  young 
man  at  heart,  and  I  was  satisfied  that  much  of  his 
eccentricity  was  mere  affectation,  as  it  generally 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  39 

is  with  everybody.  I  honestly  and  sincerely 
desired  to  do  him  good,  and  the  best  thing  1  could 
do  would  be  to  give  him  higher  views  of  life  than 
he  entertained,  to  help  him  to  anchor  his  hopes 
upon  the  solid  foundation  of  moral  and  religious 
principle.  But  I  had  only  a  day  to  remain  in  New 
York,  for  the  steamer  sailed  on  Wednesday,  and 
we  arrived  on  Monday  night.  I  was  not  afraid  to 
associate  with  him,  and  while  I  tried  to  do  my 
duty  by  him,  I  also  carefully  avoided  the  errors  of 
the  Pharisee  and  the  hypocrite. 

We  had  taken  a  room  together  in  the  hotel,  and 
neither  of  us  waked  till  ten  o'clock  in  the  fore- 
noon, for  it  was  four  when  we  retired  in  the  morn- 
ing. Larry  worked  half  an  hour  on  his  pants, 
which  had  been  somewhat  damaged  in  the  water 
the  day  before.  He  had  a  small  valise,  from 
which  he  took  a  shirt  with  extravagant  frills  on 
the  bosom,  and  completed  his  elaborate  toilet  with 
the  nicest  care.  I  was  tired  of  waiting  for  hirn, 
long  before  he  had  finished  his  labors,  and  went 
down  into  the  dining-room  to  order  our  breakfast. 
I  seated  myself  at  the  table  opposite  a  gentleman 
of  fifty,  at  whose  side  sat  a  beautiful  and  very 
interesting  young  lady  of  eighteen,  doubtless  his 
daughter. 


40  BIVOUAC  AND  BATTLE,   OR 

The  gentleman  seemed  to  be  very  sad  and 
nervous,  and  to  some  extent  the  lady  had  the  same 
appearance,  though  I  saw  that  she  was  striving  to 
be  cheerful  and  happy.  I  looked  at  her  as  much 
as  I  dared,  for  there  was  something  ver}^  pleasing 
about  her.  While  I  was  casting  occasional  glances 
at  her,  she  told  the  gentleman  she  would  go  to  her 
room,  and  get  ready  to  go  out.  She  left  the  hall 
just  as  Larry  entered  with  a  copy  of  the  Herald  in 
his  hand.  He  looked  at  her  earnestly,  and  turned 
to  gaze  at  her  as  she  passed  out  of  the  room. 

"  That's  a  stunning  pretty  girl,"  said  he,  in  a 
low  tone,  as  he  seated  himself  at  my  side. 

"  Hush  !  That's  her  father,"  I  whispered,  nod- 
ding towards  the  gentleman  on  the  other  side  of 
the  table,  who  seemed  to  be  absorbed  in  his  own 
gloomy  thoughts,  and  paid  no  attention  to  us. 

"  She  is  the  prettiest  girl  I  ever  laid  eyes 
on,"  added  Larry,  with  enthusiasm,  but  in  a  low 
whisper. 

"  What's  the  news  ?  "  I  asked,  in  order  to 
change  the  subject.     "  I  see  you  have  the  paper." 

"  Yes,  I  always  read  the  Herald  at  breakfast.  I 
used  to  stick  type  on  it,"  he  replied,  unfolding  the 
sheet.     "  War  in  Europe,"  he  continued,  reading 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF   A   SOLDIER.  41- 

the  head  lines  under  the  latest  news.  "  Eighty 
thousand  troops  sent  into  Italy.  I  should  like  to 
be  there,  and  take  a  hand  in  that  row." 

"  You  don't  want  to  fight  —  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  do ;  I  have  a  decided  taste  for  it.  I  fancy 
there  is  something  in  me,  and  that  it  will  come  out 
in  time.  I  wasn't  born  to  be  a  jour  printer,  and 
when  my  time  comes,  I  shall  be  a  big  man." 

"  That's  all  folly,  Larry.  The  only  way  for  a 
fellow  to  make  anything  of  himself  is  to  go  to 
work  like  a  man  in  whatever  sphere  he  may  find 
himself.  A  jour  printer  may  make  a  great  man  of 
himself  as  well  as  any  other  man  ;  but  this  soaring 
after  the  infinite,  and  diving  into  the  depths  of  the 
unfathomable,  are  all  moonshine." 

"  You  are  a  philosopher,  Phil,  of  which -I  am  not 
whom,"  laughed  Larry. 

He  read  the  European  news  while  we  waited  for 
our  breakfast,  and  as  my  mother  was  still  at  Nice, 
I  was  deeply  interested  in  it. 

"  '  Heavy  defalcation,'  "  continued  Larry,  read- 
ing from  another  column  of  the  paper.  "  '  Our 
city  was  thrown  into  unwonted  commotion  this 
morning  by  the  discovery  of  a  heavy  defalcation  in 
the  Spring  Hill  Bank.     The  sudden  disappearance 


42  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

of  the  cashier,  Mr.  Luther  Fennimore,  who  has 
hitherto  borne  an  irreproachable  character  in  the 
city,  suggested  an  examination  of  the  affairs  of  the 
bank,  which  unfortunately  resulted  in  furnishing 
the  most  conclusive  evidence  that  a  systematic 
course  of  fraud  had  been  practised  upon  the 
directors  for  several  years.  The  amount  of  the 
defalcation  cannot  be  less  than  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  bank  will 
be  obliged  to  go  into  liquidation. 

"  '  Mr.  Fennimore  has  heretofore  enjoyed  the 
entire  confidence  of  the  directors,  and  of  the  com- 
munity, and  it  is  painful  to  know  that  one  who  has 
been  so  highly  respected  could  descend  to  the 
abyss  of  crime.  Mr.  Fennimore  is  a  widower,  with 
an  only  daughter,  a  beautiful  young  lady,  highly 
educated  and  accomplished,  and  her  father's  error 
will  be  a  crushing  blow  to  her.  She  has  been  on 
a  visit  to  a  friend  in  New  York  city  for  several 
weeks,  and  it  is  believed  that  her  unfortunate  but 
guilty  father  will  endeavor  to  see  her.  Officers 
have  been  sent  to  New  York  to  intercept  him  if 
he  attempts  to  leave  the  country  in  the  Cunard 
steamer  of  Wednesday.  The  sympathies  of  the 
public  — '     Confound  the  sympathies  of  the  pub- 


THE   STKUGGLES   OP   A  SOLDIEK.  43 

lie  !  "  exclaimed  Larry,  as  the  waiter  brought  in 
our  breakfast ;  and  he  threw  down  the  paper. 

"  Why  don't  you  finish  the  article  ?  I  am  anx- 
ious to  hear  the  rest  of  it,"  I  interposed. 

"  Read  for  yourself,  Phil.  I  never  wait  my 
breakfast  for  the  sympathies  of  the  public,"  an- 
swered Larry,  taking  a  large  piece  of  steak  from 
the  dish. 

When  my  friend  began  to  read  this  article,  I 
noticed  that  the  elderly  gentleman  opposite  me 
suddenly  turned  very  pale.  I  saw  that  his  lips 
quivered,  and  his  whole  frame  was  convulsed. 
He  struggled  to  appear  indifferent,  but  his  efforts 
were  only  partially  successful.  I  observed  him 
with  no  little  interest,  and  without  seeming  to 
watch  him,  I  scrutinized  his  looks  and  actions 
very  closely.  I  was  afraid  he  was  the  Mr.  Luther 
Fennimore  alluded  to  in  the  paragraph.  If  so,  he 
had  abundant  reason  to  be  gloomy  and  nervous. 
I  finished  the  reading  of  the  article  ;  but  the  rest 
of  it  was  only  to  the  effect  that  the  sympathies  of 
the  public  would  be  entirely  with  the  beautiful 
and  accomplished  daughter  of  the  defaulter.  For 
my  own  part,  I  pitied  him  more  than  her,  though 
he  deserved   it   less,  for   he  had  the  burden  of 


44  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

crime  on  his  soul,  which  is  the  heaviest  load  that  a 
mortal  can  carry. 

While  we  were  at  the  table  the  young  lady 
appeared  at  the  door,  and  the  nervous  gentleman 
hastened  to  join  her.  He  was  so  agitated  that  he 
could  hardly  walk.  When  they  had  gone,  Larry 
indulged  in  some  enthusiastic  remarks  about  the 
lady,  and  declared  that  he  should  be  sure  and  be 
at  dinner  in  order  to  see  her  again.  I  asked  the 
waiter  who  the  gentleman  was,  but  he  was  unable 
to  give  his  name.  At  the  office  I  made  the  same 
inquiry,  and  the  clerk  pointed  to  "  Park  Barnard ?? 
on  the  register,  and  "  Miss  Goodspeed  "  under  it. 
Park  Barnard  was  certainly  not  the  name  of  the 
defaulter,  and  the  supposition  that  the  lady  and 
gentleman  had  entered  assumed  names  on  the 
book  implied  that  she  was  a  party  to  her  father's 
crime,  which  I  was  not  willing  to  believe. 

I  hastened  to  the  steamer  office  to  engage  my 
passage,  and  took  a  berth  in  an  unoccupied  state- 
room well  forward,  which  I  promised  to  pay  for  in 
an  hour  or  two.  I  hoped  to  have  the  room  to  my- 
self, though  it  was  the  last  one  in  which  at  least 
one  berth  had  not  been  taken.  I  then  went  to  the 
bankers,  and    received,  the   money   on   my  draft. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  45 

Perhaps  it  would  not  have  been  paid  if  I  had  not 
produced  a  letter  from  the  banker  in  St.  Louis, 
who  gave  a  full  description  of  me,  in  order  to 
avoid  this  difficulty.  With  the  money  I  bought  a 
letter  of  credit,  for  general  use  in  Europe,  for  four 
hundred  pounds,  and  had  enough  left  to  pay  my 
passage,  and  purchase  twenty  sovereigns  in  gold, 
for  use  before  I  reached  London. 

Larry  Grimsby  went  with  me  to  all  the  places 
my  business  required  me  to  visit,  and  was  in- 
terested in  all  that  was*  said  and  done.  He  in- 
quired particularly  in  regard  to  the  method  of 
obtaining  funds  in  Europe,  which  I  explained  as 
well  as  I  was  able  in  so  short  a  time.  When  I 
inquired  in  regard  to  the  terms  for  the  letter  of 
credit,  the  clerk  handed  me  two  or  three  blank 
forms.  They  were  signed  by  the  banking  firm, 
but  contained  no  other  writing.  I  concluded  that 
the  members  of  the  firm  were  absent  from  the 
city,  and  had  signed  these  blanks  to  enable  the 
clerks  to  do  business  in  this  line  during  their 
absence.  Larry  picked  up  one  of  them,  and  read 
it  with  interest,  while  I  examined  another.  The 
terms  were  satisfactory  to  me,  and  the  letter  of 
credit  was  filled  out;  I  signed  it  in  the  margin, 


46  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

and  placed  it  in  my  pocket-book  with  other  valua- 
ble papers.  I  saw  the  clerk  pick  up  one  or  more 
of  the  blanks  as  we  left  the  office.  After  paying 
for  my  passage,  and  purchasing  my  sovereigns, 
we  made  a  visit  to  the  steamer  in  which  I  was 
to  cross  the  Atlantic.  I  saw  my  room,  and  was 
satisfied  with  it. 

"  I  wish  I  was  going  with  you,  Phil,"  said  Larry, 
as  we  left  the  ship. 

"  I  wish  you  were,''  I  replied. 

"  See  here ;  it  is  dinner  time,  Phil,"  added  he, 
as  the  clock  on  Trinity  struck  the  hour. 

We  hastened  to  the  hotel,  and  arrived  only  a 
little  late  ;  but  my  friend  was  sorely  disappointed 
when  he  found  that  the  pretty  young  lady  was 
not  at  the  table.  Neither  she  nor  her  father  ap- 
peared, and  we  did  not  see  them  again  at  the 
hotel.  After  dinner  Larry  left  me  to  call  upon 
some  of  his  friends.  Suspecting  that  his  New 
York  associates  were  like  himself,  I  declined  to 
go  with  him.  He  told  me  that  one  of  them  owed 
him  thirty  and  another  ten  dollars,  borrowed 
money,  which  he  hoped  to  collect ;  and  I  was  still 
less  inclined  to  go  with  him,  if  it  was  to  be  a 
dunning  expedition.     I  begged  him  not  to  drink 


THE   STKUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIEE.  47 

anything,  for  he  might  meet  the  young  lady  at 
the  hotel  in  the  evening.  He  only  laughed,  and 
made  no  promises. 

I  spent  the  afternoon  in  completing  the  prep- 
arations for  my  voyage.  Long  before  dark  Larry 
returned  to  the  hotel.  To  my  surprise  he  was  not 
tipsy,  and  I  could  not  detect  even  the  smell  of 
liquor  about  him. 

"  Have  you  seen  the  young  lady?  "  he  asked. 

"  No ;  we  will  ask  about  her  at  the  office." 

We  did  so,  and  learned  that  the  gentleman  was 
quite  sick,  and  that  she  was  attending  to  his 
wants.  Larry  went  out  again  in  the  evening,  but 
returned  before  ten  o'clock. 

"  Not  a  drop,  Phil,"  said  he.  "  I  haven't  drank 
anything  to-day." 

"  I  suppose  you  don't  feel  any  the  worse  for  it." 

"  No ;  I  can't  say  that  I  do ;  but  it  is  hard 
work  to  meet  your  friends  and  not  drink  with 
them." 

"  Don't  do  it,  Larry,  however  hard  it  may  be. 
The  idea  of  a  young  fellow  like  you,  only  nineteen 
years  old,  drinking  liquor,  is  absurd.  You  are 
almost  sure  to  die  a  drunkard,  if  you  keep  on." 

"0, 1  can  take  care  of  myself;  but  just  for  a 


48  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

joke,  I  thought  I  would  kuock  off  for  a  while  ;  I 
always  took  something  before  when  I  had  any 
money ;  but  as  I  didn't  have  any,  more  than  half 
the  time,  1  couldn't  always  drink,  unless  some 
good  fellow  treated  me.  But  I  don't  often  let  a 
fellow  treat  me,  unless  I  have  the  money  to  re- 
taliate with." 

"  I  hope  you  will  keep  up  the  joke  for  a- year,  at 
least." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall ;  I  don't  know." 

"  To-morrow  morning  I  must  leave  you,  as  you 
are  aware ;  but  I  hope  I  shall  see  you  again.  Will 
you  write  to  me,  Larry,  in  care  of  the  bankers  ?  "  I 
asked,  giving  him  the  address. 

"  With  all  my  heart,  if  the  circumstances  per- 
mit," laughed  he. 

"  Tell  me  where  you  are ;  I  will  answer  your 
letter." 

My  friend  treated  the  matter  very  lightly,  and 
with  much  indifference.  We  slept  as  well  as  usual 
that  night,  and  I  was  up  early  in  the  morning.  I 
routed  out  my  companion,  and  we  took  an  early 
breakfast. 

'*  I  think  I  will  pay  my  bill,  for  I  shall,  not  stay 
here  after  you  are  gone,"  said  Larry,  when  I 
called  for  my  account. 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF   A   SOLDIER.  49 

"  I  should  think  you  would  get  into  some  good 
boarding-house,  and  go  to  work  at  once,  so  that 
you  may  always  find  a  dollar  in  your  pocket  when 
you  fish  for  one,"  I  added. 

"  Your  advice  shall  be  considered." 

I  engaged  a  car-man  to  take  my  trunk  over  to 
the  city,  and  Larry,  with  his  little  valise  in  his 
hand,  walked  down  to  the  ferry  with  me.  I 
wondered  that  he  should  be  so  absurd  as  to  carry 
it  over  and  back,  when  he  could  just  as  well  leave 
it  at  the  hotel ;  but  he  insisted  upon  having  his 
own  way.  Already  there  was  a  crowd  on  the 
wharf  when  we  went  on  board  of  the  ship.  Car- 
riages were  arriving  and  departing,  and  great 
piles  of  baggage  were  conveyed  on  board.  I  had 
my  trunk  carried  to  my  room,  and  went  down  my- 
self, to  ascertain  whether  I  was  to  be  alone  or  not. 
Larry  went  with  me,  and  placed  his  valise  in  the 
upper  berth.  No  other  passenger  appeared,  and 
I  proposed  to  go  on  deck  to  see  the  exciting 
scenes  attending  the  departure  of  an  ocean 
steamer. 

"  Better  not  leave  your  valise  there,  Larry,"  I 
suggested.  "  You  may  not  have  time  to  come  down 
after  it,  when  the  order  to  leave  the  ship  is  given." 
4 


50  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  My  valise  has  taken  passage  for  Liverpool," 
laughed  he. 

"  Your  valise  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  have  concluded  to  go  with  it,  in 
order  to  take  care  of  it." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  are  going  to 
Liverpool  —  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  he  replied,  producing  his  ticket. 

I  was  confounded  by  this  evidence  of  his  inten- 
tion, and  for  certain  reasons  I  was  not  altogether 
pleased. 


THE  STEUGGLES   OF  A  SOLDIER.  51 


CHAPTER  IV. 

IN  WHICH  PHIL  WALKS  ABOUT  THE  DECK,   AND   FINDS 
ANOTHER  GRIMSBY. 

WAS  startled  by  the  announcement  of  Larry 
Grimsby,  that  he  intended  to  go  to  Liverpool 
in  the  steamer.  As  he  had  his  ticket,  he  had 
evidently  paid  his  fare,  and  I  had  no  right  to 
interfere,  even  if  I  had  been  disposed  to  do  so. 
Certainly  I  had  some  selfish  fears,  which  annoyed 
me  not  a  little.  I  could  not  exactly  understand 
where  he  had  obtained  money  enough  to  pay  for 
his  passage  ;  but  I  concluded  that  he  had  collected 
the  whole  or  a  portion  of  the  forty  dollars  due  him 
from  his  former  associates  in  the  city.  But  even 
if  he  had  added  forty  dollars  to  the  hundred  I 
had  given  him,  he  had  plainly  expended  nearly 
every  dollar  in  his  possession  for  the  purchase  of 
his  ticket. 

"When  he  landed  in  Europe  he  would  not  have 


52  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

anything  to  pay  his  expenses,  and  I  feared  that 
my  exchequer  would  be  required  to  foot  his  bills 
as  well  as  my  own.  Grateful  as  I  was  to  him  for 
the  valuable  service  he  had  rendered  me,  I  could 
hardly  afford  to  pay  his  expenses ;  and  when  we 
were  together  in  a  foreign  land,  I  did  not  see  how 
I  could  refuse  to  do  so,  as  long  as  my  money 
lasted.  After  all,  had  he  not  saved  my  life  beyond 
the  possibility  of  a  doubt?  With  this  view,  I 
thought  I  could  not  do  too  much  for  him,  even  if  I 
gave  him  all  the  money  I  had  in  the  Avorld.  I  was 
determined,  therefore,  not  to  worry  about  him ;  at 
least  not  till  I  understood  his  plans  better. 

We  went  on  deck  after  securing  our  seats  at 
the  table  in  the  saloon.  We  walked  about,  and 
looked  at  everybody  and  everything.  I  was  in- 
terested in  the  busy  scene  around  me,  and  excited 
by  the  prospect  before  me.  Larry  took  every- 
thing as  coolly  as  though  he  had  crossed  the  ocean 
a  dozen  times. 

"  Hallo,  Chaplin ! "  exclaimed  he,  as  he  en- 
countered a  rather  disagreeable-looking  man  near 
the  smoke-stack. 

"  Hist,  Larry  !  Don't  mention  my  name  here," 
replied  the  person  addressed. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        53 

"  Why  not  ?  Do  you  want  to  cut  an  old 
friend  ?  " 

"  By  no  means ;  but  don't  mention  my  name, 
if  you  please,"  added  Chaplin,  with  an  expressive 
wink. 

u  Certainly  not,  if  you  say  so ;  but  I  am  sorry 
you  are  ashamed  of  your  name." 

"  It  isn't  that,  Larry.  The  fact  of  it  is,  I'm  in 
the  shadow  business  just  now,"  replied  Chaplin,  in 
a  low  tone. 

"  Is  that  so  ?  This  is  my  particular  friend,  Phil 
Farringford." 

I  shook  hands  with  him,  but  I  did  not  repeat  his 
name,  after  the  expressive  warning  not  to  do  so. 

"  He's  in  the  shadow  business,"  laughed  Larry. 

"  Pray,  what's  the  shadow  business  ?  "  I  asked, 
having  never  heard  the  expression  before. 

"  Don't  you  know,  Phil  ?  He  is  a  detective. 
He  is  on  the  lookout  for  some  rogue  who  will  try 
to  leave  in  this  steamer.     Isn't  that  so,  my  chap?" 

"  Just  so  ;  big  game,  too." 

"  I  suppose  you  won't  mind  telling  me  what 
it  is." 

"  No ;.  it's  a  bank  cashier ;  but  don't  mention  it." 

"  Not  a  word." 


54  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Very  likely  you  read  about  it  in  the  papers," 
added  Chaplin. 

"  The  one  with  the  highly  educated  and  ac- 
complished daughter  —  is  that  the  one  ?  " 

"The  same;  he's  booked  for  this  steamer;  but 
he  won't  come  on  board  till  the  last  minute.  I'm 
stationed  here,  where  I  can  see  every  one  that 
comes  down  the  wharf.  Keep  your  eyes  open, 
and  you  may  see  some  fun." 

I  did  not  think  there  could  be  any  fun  in  seeing 
a  poor  wretch  arrested  for  his  crime,  especially  if 
the  anguish  of  his  innocent  daughter  was  to  be  a 
part  of  the  spectacle.  But  I  was  interested  in  the 
case,  and  when  the  defaulter  appeared,  I  half 
expected  to  see  the  tremulous  gentleman  whom 
I  had  met  at  the  breakfast  table  the  day  before. 
After  talking  with  the  detective  a  few  moments, 
we  continued  our  walk. 

"  You  know  that  man,  Larry  ?  "  I  said,  wishing 
to  learn  more  about  him. 

"  Yes  ;  he  used  to  be  a  printer,  and  I  worked 
with  him,"  replied  my  friend.  "  He's  in  mean 
business  now ;  but  I  think  he's  up  to  it." 

"  Why  mean  business  ?  " 

"  Well,  it  is  mean  to  dog  people's  steps,  and  set 


THE  STEUGGLES   OP  A  SOLDIER.  55 

traps  to  catch  them.  I  wouldn't  do  it  to  save  my 
body  from  starvation,"  continued  Larry,  explaining 
the  business  more  in  detail. 

"  I  suppose  he  is  sure  to  catch  this  man,  if  he 
attempts  to  leave  in  this  ship." 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  There  are  three  or  four  of 
them  on  the  wharf  and  in  the  vessel." 

"  By  the  way,  Larry,  I  fancy  we  have  seen  this 
defaulter,"  I  added. 

"  No  ! " 

"  In  my  opinion  it  is  the  gentleman  who  was 
with  the  young  lady  at  the  Western  Hotel." 

"  You  don't  mean  it !  " 

u  Of  course  I  may  be  mistaken,  but  I  certainly 
think  so ;  "  and  I  explained  the  grounds  of  my 
belief. 

"  If  I  thought  he  was  the  father  of  that  stun- 
ning pretty  girl,  I'd  help  him  off,  if  I  could." 

"  That  would  not  be  right,"  I  replied,  shaking 
my  head. 

"  Why  not  ?  These  banks  are  sponging  shops  ; 
they  rob  the  people  of  their  money,  and  this 
cashier  only  paid  them  off  in  their  own  coin." 

"  Wrong,  all  wrong.  The  banks  are  perfectly 
proper  institutions,  and  the  cashier  had  no  right 


56  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

to  take  what  did  not  belong  to  him.  Your  argu- 
ment is  utterly  ridiculous." 

"  Perhaps  it  is ;  I'm  no  philosopher,"  laughed 
he.  "  I'm  going  below  to  get  a  handkerchief.  I'll 
be  with  you  again  in  a  moment." 

I  saw  him  descend  the  steps,  and  I  walked 
forward,  deeply  interested  in  the  exciting  scene 
around  me.  I  passed  the  "  shadow,"  who  still  had 
his  eyes  fixed  on  the  wharf,  where  carriages  were 
bringing  passengers  for  the  steamer.  I  continued 
my  walk  to  the  bow,  where,  as  I  was  turning  to 
retrace  my  steps,  I  encountered  Larry,  as  I 
supposed. 

"  I  thought  you  went  below,"  I  remarked,  halt- 
ing in  front  of  the  person  addressed.  "  Did  you 
see  Mr.  Fennimore  and  his  daughter  ?  " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  replied  he. 

A  second  glance  at  him  assured  me  I  had  made 
a  blunder  ;  but  certainly  the  person  bore  a  marvel- 
lous resemblance  to  my  friend.  If  I  had  observed 
his  dress  before  I  spoke  to  him,  I  might  have 
avoided  the  blunder. 

"  Excuse  me ;  I  thought  it  was  Mr.  Grimsby,"  I 
apologized. 

"  Indeed,    sir,    that    is    my   name,"    added    the 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF  A   SOLDIER.  57 

young  man,  evidently  much  perplexed  at  my 
conduct. 

"  But  not  the  Mr.  Grimsby  with  whom  I  am 
acquainted,  though  you  look  very  much  like  him." 

The  voice  and  manner  of  the  speaker  were 
quite  different  from  Larry's,  though,  looking  at  his 
face  only,  I  was  not  surprised  at  my  mistake.  A 
close  scrutiny  of  his  features  and  expression,  how- 
ever, revealed  some  points  of  difference.  His 
dress  and  manner  were  decidedly  English. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  added  the  stranger;  "but 
you  mentioned  a  gentleman  with  whom  I  am  con- 
nected ;  my  uncle,  indeed  —  Mr.  Fennimore." 

"  I  do  not  even  know  the  person  of  whom  I 
spoke ;  but  as  you  seem  to  be  an  Englishman, 
probably  he  is  not  the  Mr.  Fennimore  who  is  your 
uncle.  I  allude  to  the  bank  defaulter,  for  whom 
the  officers  are  just  now  in  search." 

"  A  bank  defaulter ! "  exclaimed  he  ;  and  I 
was  afraid,  after  all,  that  I  had  "  put  my  foot 
into  it." 

"  I  merely  read  about  the  matter  in  the  news- 
paper," I  replied. 

"  Of  course  it  cannot  be  my  uncle,  then,  who  is 
coming  on  board  by  the  post  steamer ;  but  it's  a 


58  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

bit  strange  that  we  have  so  many  people  with  the 
same  names." 

I  conversed  a  few  moments  with  him  on  indif- 
ferent topics,  and  then  resumed  my  walk.  The 
bells  began  to  ring  violently,  and  an  officer  ordered 
all  but  the  passengers  to  go  ashore.  The  great 
hawsers  were  cast  off,  and  the  wheels  began  to 
turn.  I  passed  the  "  shadow,"  and  saw  he  had  no 
intention  of  leaving  the  steamer. 

"  Do  you  go  to  Liverpool  with  us  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  No ;  a  small  steamer  brings  off  the  mails,  and 
very  likely  my  man  will  come  off  in  her." 

This  was  doubtless  the  boat  which  the  English 
Grimsby  called  the  "  post  steamer."  Of  course,  as 
he  was  from  England,  the  defaulter  could  not  be 
his  uncle.  I  paced  the  deck  again,  bestowing  my 
last  look  upon  the  city  of  New  York.  Hundreds 
of  people,  on  the  wharf  and  on  the  steamer,  were 
waving  their  adieus  with  hats  and  handkerchiefs, 
and  I  tried  to  be  a  little  sentimental.  I  wondered 
why  Larry  did  not  come  up  to  witness  this  interest- 
ing scene  ;  but  I  saw  nothing  of  him. 

"  We  are  off,"  said  some  one  near  me. 

I  turned,  and  found  that  the  remark  was  ad- 
dressed  to   me.     As  I  did   so,  I  recognized   the 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF  A  SOLDIER.  *      59 

English  Grimsby  with  a  young  lady  on  his  arm.  I 
was  not  a  little  startled  when  I  discovered  that 
she  was  the  same  one  I  had  seen  at  the  Western 
Hotel. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  Mr.  Grimsby ;  "  but  I 
desire  very  much  to  see  the  person  for  whom  you 
mistook  me." 

"  He  is  not  on  deck  just  at  this  moment,"  I  re- 
plied ;  "  but  I  will  bring  him  to  you  as  soon  as  he 
comes  up." 

"  Thank  you.  I'm  curious  about  the  matter, 
especially  as  you  mentioned  my  uncle's  name.  I 
beg  your  pardon,  but  I  haven't  the  pleasure  of 
your  name." 

"Mr.  Farringford.     Philip  Farringford." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Farringford.  You  have  mine, 
and  now  we  are  even.  This  is  Miss  Fennimore, 
my  cousin." 

The  young  lady  bowed  rather  coldly,  as  though 
she  did  not  quite  approve  the  conduct  of  her 
cousin  in  introducing  her  to  a  mere  chance  ac- 
quaintance. 

"  This  is  a  beautiful  day  we  have  to  commence 
our  voyage,"  I  added. 

"  Very  fine,"  she  answered,  somewhat  haughtily. 


60  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

Finding  that  my  company  was  not  particularly 
agreeable  to  her,  I  touched  my  hat,  bowed,  and 
retired.  I  wanted  to  see  Larry  then,  fur  the  re- 
quest of  Grimsby  would  afford  me  an  opportunity 
of  introducing  him  to  both.  He  was  not  on  deck 
yet,  and  I  was  going  below  to  seek  him,  when  the 
steamer's  wheels  stopped,  and  the  mail-boat  came 
alongside.  I  was  curious  to  see  what  was  done, 
and  I  anticipated  an  exciting  scene  when  the 
defaulter  came  on  board.  Though  I  could  not 
explain  it,  I  was  satisfied  that  the  uncle  of  Grims- 
by was  the  person  for  whom  the  officers  were 
seeking.  The  haughty  young  lady  must  suffer  a 
degree  of  anguish  she  had  never  known  before.  I 
pitied  her,  but  I  could  not  leave  the  deck  while 
this  terrible  scene  was  impending.  The  mails 
were  brought  on  board,  and  then  the  baggage.  I 
looked  eagerly  for  the  gentleman  who  had  been  so 
nervous  at  the  hotel  when  Larry  read  the  news. 
He  did  not  appear,  and  the  small  steamer  was 
ready  to  cast  off.  Chaplin  was  disconcerted.  I 
saw  him  in  consultation  with  several  others,  who, 
I  concluded,  were  "  shadows,"  like  himself.  The 
bells  rang,  and  the  officers  shouted ;  but  the 
detectives    were    not    ready   to    leave    the    ship. 


THE   STRUGGLES    OP    A   SOLDIER.  61 

They  spoke  to  the  impatient  captain,  and  then 
went  into  the  saloon.  I  followed  them,  curious  to 
know  what  was  to  be  done.  They  scrutinized  all 
the  passengers  in  the  cabin,  and  then  went  below. 
I  saw  them  looking  into  all  the  state-rooms. 

"  This  is  his  room,"  said  Chaplin,  at  the  one 
next  to  mine,  "  or  at  least  the  one  engaged  for  Mr. 
Park  Barnard." 

There  were  some  trunks  in  it,  but  no  pas- 
sengers. I  found  that  my  room  was  locked,  and 
the  shadow  knocked  at  the  door. 

"  Who's  there  ?  "  demanded  Larry. 

"  Open  the  door,  Larry,"  I  replied,  taking  the 
matter  out  of  the  hands  of  the  officers. 

"  Hold  on  a  minute,  Phil.  I'm  mending  my 
trousers." 

Chaplin  laughed,  and  said  he  knew  that  voice. 

"  Is  this  your  room  ?  "  he  asked,  turning  to  me. 

"  Yes ;  Larry  and  I  have  it  together,"  I  an- 
swered. 

"  Is  there  any  other  person  in  there  ?  " 

"  There  are  only  two  berths ;  Larry  has  one, 
and  I  have  the  other." 

"  That's  all  right,"  added  Chaplin,  as  he  and  his 
companions  passed  on  to  the  next  room. 


62  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

I  followed  them,  as  did  half  a  dozen  others, 
including  the  chief  steward.  The  search  was  a 
fruitless  one.  Mr.  Fennimore  could  not  be  found, 
and  the  "  shadows  "  were  satisfied  that  he  was  not 
on  board. 

"  He  was  afraid  to  show  himself  after  that 
article  in  the  newspapers,"  said  Chaplin  to  one 
of  his  fellows.  "  That  newspaper  correspondent 
ought  to  be  hung." 

They  went  on  board  of  the  mail-boat,  and  when 
it  had  cast  off,  the  great  wheels  of  the  steamer 
began  to  turn  again,  and  we  were  actually  com- 
mencing the  voyage.  Miss  Fennimore  and  Grims- 
by were  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  I  went  below 
again  to  see  Larry,  after  we  had  passed  the  Nar- 
rows. The  door  of  our  room  was  still  fastened, 
and  I  knocked. 

"  Who  is  it  ?  "  called  Larry. 

"  Open  the  door,"  I  replied. 

"Hold  on  a  little  while  —  will  you,  Phil?" 

"  Can't  you  let  me  in  now  ?  " 

"  Are  you  alone  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

I  thought  the  last  was  rather  an  odd  question, 
and  I  did  not  see  the  point  of  it ;  but  he  opened 
the  door,  and  I  stepped  in. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A  SOLDIER.  63 

"  What  in  the  world  are  you  about,  Larry  ?  " 
I  asked. 

"I  have  to  do  my  own  mending,"  laughed  he; 
"  and  I  was  busy  at  a  job  that  comes  under  that 
head." 

"  But  why  didn't  you  go  on  deck,  and  see  the 
fun  ?  We  have  passed  through  the  Narrows,  and 
the  view  was  worth  seeing." 

"  Confound  the  view  !  I  have  seen  it  a  hundred 
times  before  now." 

"  There  is  a  young  fellow  on  board  —  an  Eng- 
lishman —  that  looks  like  you,  Larry ;  so  much  so 
that  I  spoke  to  him,  thinking  it  was  you.  He 
wants  to  see  you;  and  there  is  a  certain  young 
lady  with  him." 

"  Precisely  so,"  he  replied,  exhibiting  no  sur- 
prise. "  And  I  was  spoken  to  by  a  gentleman  who 
thought  I  was  somebody  else.  He  called  me 
Miles.  By  the  way,  Phil,  have  the  cops  all 
gone  ?  " 

"The  what?" 

"  The  shadows  —  you  know." 

"  Every  one  of  them.  They  were  disappointed, 
and  declared  that  the  newspaper  article  you  read 
had  defeated  their  plans." 


64  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Perhaps  it  did." 

"  The  officers  searched  the  steamer  before 
they  left." 

"  I  know  they  did,"  chuckled  Larry. 

"  How  did  you  know,  when  you  were  mending 
your  trousers,  locked  up  in  your  room  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  mend  them  much,"  he  replied,  glan- 
cing at  his  berth  with  an  expression  so  significant 
that  I  could  not  help  doing  the  same. 

In  the  berth,  with  his  head  resting  upon  his 
hand,  was  Mr.  Luther  Fennimore,  the  bank  de- 
faulter; and  I  realized  what  my  unprincipled  com- 
panion had  been  doing.  I  was  startled,  as  though 
an  apparition  had  suddenly  burst  upon  my  view. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  65 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN  WHICH  PHIL  LISTENS  TO  THE  DEFAULTER'S  STORY, 
AND  BECOMES  BETTER  ACQUAINTED  WITH  BLANCHE 
FENNIMORE. 

THE  steamer  had  discharged  her  pilot,  and  was 
well  away  from  the  land,  when  I  discovered 
Mr.  Fennimore  in  my  state-room.  Though  I 
believe,  most  earnestly,  that  every  man  should 
mind  his  own  business,  I  am  satisfied  that  under 
the  specious  pretence  of  doing  so,  many  people 
connive  at  knavery.  I  could  not  help  asking 
myself  whether  any  responsibility  rested  upon  mo 
for  the  escape  of  the  defaulter.  As  I  had  made 
the  discovery  of  his  presence  in  my  room  only 
after  the  ship  was  clear  of  the  land,  I  could  not 
believe  that  any  guilt  attached  to  me.  I  do  not 
think  that  bank  defaulters  are  any  the  less  guilty 
because  they  have  moved  in  good  society ;  and 
certainly,  if  I  had  known  that  Mr.  Fennimore  was 
5 


66  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 

on  board,  I  would  have  done  what  I  could  to  bring 
him  to  justice  for  his  crime. 

Miles  Grimsby  had  told  me  that  his  uncle  would 
come  off  to  the  steamer  in  the  boat  with  the 
mails,  and  I  was  very  much  surprised  to  find  that 
he  was  on  board.  Just  before  I  went  below,  I 
had  seen  Miles  and  Miss  Fennimore  walking  on 
the  hurricane  deck.  I  wondered  now  whether 
she  knew  all  the  time  that  her  father  was  on 
board.  If  she  expected  him  to  come  off  in  the 
mail-boat,  she  would  naturally  have  been  very 
much  alarmed  at  his  non-appearance.  I  had  not 
noticed  any  demonstration  on  her  part',  and  I  was 
driven  to  the  conclusion  that  she  knew  he  was  in 
the  ship.  I  did  not  see  how  the  defaulter  could 
have  eluded  the  officers  without  the  assistance  of 
Larry.  The  daughter  did  not  seem  to  trouble 
herself  about  the  safety  of  her  father,  and  I  still 
regarded  her  as  innocent  of  all  knowledge  of  his 
crime. 

Mr.  Fennimore  lay  in  the  upper  berth,  which 
had  been  appropriated  to  Larry's  use.  His  head 
rested  upon  his  hand,  and  he  had  evidently  been 
engaged  in  conversation  with  my  room-mate.  His 
hair   was   disarranged,  and   his   toilet   much   dis- 


THE   STEUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  67 

turbed,  and  I  concluded,  from  the  appearance  of 
the  bed-clothing,  that  he  had  been  concealed 
beneath  it.  He  was  still  very  nervous,  and  wore 
the  same  anxious  expression  as  when  I  had  first 
seen  him  at  the  table  of  the  hotel.  I  glanced  at 
him,  and  then  at  Larry.  My  friend  chuckled,  and 
evidently  thought  he  had  done  a  clever  thing  in 
outwitting  the  officers,  and  in  throwing  dust  into 
my  eyes. 

"  Come  in,  Phil,"  said  Larry,  after  I  had  re- 
garded the  situation  in  silence  for  a  moment. 

"  This  room  seems  to  be  pretty  well  occupied 
already,"  I  replied.     ' 

"  Room  enough  for  one  more,  my  dear  fellow. 
Come  in,  and  make  yourself  at  home  —  as  though 
you  belonged  here." 

"  I  had  an  idea  that  I  did  belong  here ;  but  I 
begin  to  think  I  do  not,"  I  added. 

"  Come  in,  young  man,  if  you  please,"  said  Mr. 
Fennimore.  "  I  am  ready  to  leave  your  room 
now ;  but  I  should  like  to  speak  with  you  a  few 
moments  before  I  go." 

I  entered  the  room,  and  seated  myself  on  the 
narrow  sofa  under  the  port.  Larry  shut  the  door, 
and  bolted  it. 


68  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OE 

"  It  seems,  young  man,  that  you  know  my 
secret,"  continued  the  defaulter. 

"  I  know  it  now ;  I  only  suspected  it  before,"  I 
answered. 

"  We  met  at  the  hotel,  I  think." 

"  I  saw  you  and  your  daughter  there.  When 
my  friend  here  read  the  article  in  the  Herald 
about  the  bank  defaulter,  I  saw  that  you  were 
very  nervous,  and  trembled  violently.  I  con- 
cluded from  this  circumstance,  and  the  description 
of  your  daughter,  that  you  were  the  person." 

"  It  would  be  useless,  even  if  it  were  necessary, 
for  me  to  attempt  to  conceal  the  fact  that  I  am  the 
person — Mr.  Fennimore,  the  bank  defaulter,"  he 
replied,  with  a  shudder,  as  if  the  acknowledgment 
of  his  crime  wrung  his  very  soul. 

"  You  entered  your  name  at  the  hotel  as  Park 
Barnard,"  I  added. 

"  I  did." 

"  Does  your  daughter  know  that  you  are  on 
board  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  She  does ;  she  came  with  me.  I  knew  from 
the  article  which  was  in  the  paper  that  I  should 
be  closely  watched,  and  we  Came  on  board  before 
six  o'clock  this   morning.     I  bribed  porters  and 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  69 

servants;  I  told  them  I  was  sick,  —  as,  indeed,  I 
am, —  and  had  just  reached  the  city.  A  steward 
showed  me  my  room,  which  is  the  next  to  this.  I 
explained  that  I  did  not  wish  to  be  disturbed,  and 
asked  him  not  to  tell  any  one  that  I  was  on  board. 
No  one  came  near  me,  and  I  believed  that  I  was 
safe  till  this  young  man,  whom  I  took  to  be  my 
nephew  when  I  spoke  to  him,  assured  me  of  my 
mistake,  and  kindly  aided  me.  He  concealed  me 
in  his  bed,  and  covered  me  with  bags  and  valises, 
in  such  a  way  that  he  declared  I  was  entirely 
safe." 

"  But  the  officers  didn't  even  look  in,  Phil, 
thanks  to  your  assistance,"  chuckled  Larry. 

"  They  would  have  come  in,  if  I  had  suspected 
that  anything  was  wrong,"  I  replied. 

"  Come,  come  !  Don't  be  ugly,  after  you  have 
done  a  good  thing  for  a  fellow." 

"  I  see  that  I  have  not  your  sympathies,"  added 
the  anxious  occupant  of  the  upper  berth. 

"  Personally  I  have  no  ill  will  against  you  ;  but 
I  would  not  willingly  aid  any  man  in  concealing 
a  crime,  like  robbing  a  bank.  Does  your  nephew 
know  that  you  are  here  ?  " 

"  Probably  Blanche  has  told  him  by  this  time." 


70  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Blanche  ?  " 

"  My  daughter.  I  told  Miles  yesterday  that" 
Blanche  would  come  on  board  with  a  friend,  and 
I  should  join  her  by  the  mail-boat." 

"  Does  Miles  or  your  daughter  know  that  you 
are  a  defaulter  ?  "  I  asked. 

"Certainly  not;  whatever  becomes  of  me,  I 
hope  they  will  never  know  it,"  added  Mr.  Fenni- 
more,  with  a  convulsive  start. 

"  Was  the  statement  in  the  paper  true,  that  }7ou 
had  taken  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  from  the 
bank?"  I  asked. 

"  It  was.  Twenty-five  years  ago  I  was  a  mer- 
chant, and  a  successful  one.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-three  I  was  admitted  as  the  junior  partner 
of  a  large  house  in  New  York.  I  went  to  Europe 
frequently,  and  in  England  married  Sara  Groye- 
land,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Hale  Groveland,  Knight. 
Miles  Grimsby,  the  father  of  the  young  man  on 
board,  who  resembles  our  friend  here  so  strongly, 
and  the  son  of  Sir  Philip  Grimsby,  Baronet, 
married  another  daughter  of  Sir  Hale.  I  was 
fortunate,  but  I  was  extravagant.  I  intended  that 
my  wife  should  live  in  a  style  equal  to  that  of  her 
titled  relatives  in  England ;  and  she  did.     One  of 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        71 

the  senior  partners  of  our  firm  died,  the  other 
retired,  and  the  business  came  into  my  hands. 
But  it  had  lost  its  controlling  minds,  though  I 
believed  myself  fully  competent  to  manage  it, 
even  better  than  my  late  seniors.  I  was  mistaken, 
and  in  a  couple  of  years  I  made  a  disastrous 
failure.  I  tried  again,  with  no  better  success.  I 
was  poor  —  very  poor.  I  had  nothing,  and  no 
one  would  give  me  credit.  My  wife  never  re- 
proached me,  but  my  reverses  preyed  upon  her 
spirits,  and  she  died,  leaving  me  an  only  daughter. 
Perhaps  affliction  chastened  me  for  a  time.  With 
the  aid  of  powerful  friends,  I  obtained  the  situa- 
tion of  cashier  of  the  Lowerville  Bank. 

"  I  had  no  vices,  and  I  was  respected  in  the 
community.  I  kept  house  for  my  daughter's  sake, 
and  gave  her  a  very  expensive  education.  As 
she  grew  older,  I  had  parties  for  her  benefit ;  and 
spoiled  by  the  luxury  and  extravagance  of  my 
earlier  years,  I  exceeded  my  income,  and  ran  in 
debt.  To  avoid  trouble  outside,  I  used  the  funds 
of  the  bank,  intending  to  reduce  my  expenses,  and 
return  the  sums  I  had  appropriated.  Instead  of 
being  able  to  diminish  my  expenditures,  they 
continued  to  increase,  until  I  found  that  I  owed 


72  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

the  bank  nearly  fifty  thousand  dollars.  I  was  ap- 
palled and  terrified  by  the  extent  of  my  defalca- 
tion. I  could  not  hope  to  make  it  good.  The 
officers  of  the  bank  had  unlimited  confidence  in 
me,  and  I  had  the  villain's  art  to  conceal  the 
frauds.  But  I  worried  day  and  night  about  my 
situation.  Sleep  was  almost  a  stranger  to  my 
eyelids,  and  my  health  failed.  I  felt  that  I  must 
soon  die,  and  I  trembled  when  I  thought  that  a 
week's  illness  and  absence  from  the  bank  might 
expose  its  affairs  and  my  crime  to  the  world.  I 
could  not  endure  the  idea  of  leaving  my  daughter 
only  a  legacy  of  poverty  and  crime,  and  I  deter- 
mined, before  it  was  too  late,  to  flee  to  another 
country. 

"  Blanche,  like  a  true  and  loving  daughter,  was 
sadly  troubled  about  my  failing  health,  and  I 
spoke  to  her  of  going  to  Europe  for  its  restoration. 
My  sister  and  her  son  Miles  had  spent  the  winter 
in  Virginia,  for  her  health,  and  a  month  ago  came 
New  York,  to  visit  friends  there.  Blanche  was 
also  invited,  and  deeming  this  a  good  opportunity 
to  carry  out.  my  plan,  I  told  her  to  accept  the 
invitation,  and  that  we  would  go  to  England  with 
the  Grimsbys  in  May.    She  went  to  the  city,  and  did 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  73 

not  again  return  to  Lowerville.  I  took  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars  of  the  funds  of  the  bank,  and  then 
closed  its  doors  for  the  last  time,  on  the  day 
before  I  saw  you  at  the  hotel.  Before  dark  I  was 
in  New  York,  and  took  Blanche  from  the  house  of 
her  friends,  on  the  plea  that  the  hotel  was  nearer 
the  steamer.  Before  it  was  known  to  the  public 
at  large,  I  had  changed  my  funds  into  gold  and 
Bank  of  England  notes,  for  I  dared  not  trust  them 
in  a  bill  of  exchange.  The  money  is  in  this  small 
valise,"  said  he,  raising  the  portmanteau  in  the 
berth.  "  The  article  you  read  frightened  me 
terribly ;  and  I  am  so  ill  now  that  I  can  hardly 
stand  up." 

"  Then  none  of  your  friends  with  you  know 
what  you  have  done  ? "  I  asked. 

"  No ;  nor  suspect  it.  I  hope  to  reach  some 
retired  place  in  Italy  or  Germany,  where  I  may 
live  in  peace  and  penitence,"  said  he,  gloomily. 

"  Penitence  !  "  I  exclaimed.  "  I  should  say  there 
could  be  no  such  thing  till  you  had  restored  your 
ill-gotten  wealth." 

"  I  cannot  starve." 

"  Better  starve  than  be  dishonest." 

"  But  my  daughter  ?  " 


74  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  I  am  sure,  if  she  knew  the  whole  truth,  she 
would  not  permit  you  to  retain  a  penny  of  the 
stolen  money." 

"  You  are  right,  Mr.  Farringford,"  replied  the 
defaulter,  with  a  groan  of  real  anguish. 

"  Don't  be  too  stiff,  Phil,"  interposed  Larry. 
"  Blanche  shall  never  know  anything  about  this 
matter." 

"  Mr.  Farringford  is  right ;  he  is  an  honest 
young  man ;  and  if  he  knew  how  much  I  have 
suffered,  he  would  pity  me." 

"  I  do  pity  you  now ;  but  I  should  respect  you 
more,  if  you  gave  up  the  stolen  money." 

"  I  have  not  the  courage  to  do  that ;  but  I 
feel  quite  ill,  and  I  wish  to  go  to  my  own  room 
now." 

Larry  and  I  assisted  him  to  his  state-room,  and 
saw  him  made  as  comfortable  as  possible. 

"  You  will  not  betray  me  to  my  daughter,  Mr. 
Farringford  —  will  you  ?  "  pleaded  he. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do.  I  should  feel  as 
though  I  had  a  guilty  knowledge  of  your  crime,  if 
I  assisted  in  concealing  it.  But  I  shall  not  make 
your  daughter  unhappy,  if  I  can  avoid  it.  We  will 
drop  the  matter  now,  if  you  please." 


THE   STRUGGLES    OP    A    SOLDIER.  75 

"  Will  one  of  you  ask  Blanche  to  come  to  me  ? 
I  feel  very  ill  indeed,  and  I  wonder  she  does  not 
come  down." 

"  I  will  go,  and  Larry  may  stay  with  you  till 
she  comes/'  I  replied,  leaving  the  room. 

I  went  to  the  hurricane  deck.  The  steamer 
had  some  time  before  begun  to  roll  in  the  long 
swells  of  the  ocean,  though  the  weather  was  mild 
and  pleasant.  I  found  Blanche  Fennimore  ex- 
tended upon  a  seat,  looking  very  pale.  She  was 
seasick,  and  this  fully  explained  her  continued 
absence  from  her  father.  Mrs.  Grimsby,  her  aunt, 
lay  near  her  in  the  same  situation,  and  Miles  was 
taking  care  of  both  of  them. 

"  Both  ill,"  said  Miles,  as  I  paused  near  the 
sufferers. 

"  So  I  perceive." 

"  Have  you  seen  my  uncle,  or  don't  you  know 
him?" 

"  He  is  in  his  room,  quite  ill." 

"  He  is  very  feeble ;  he  told  me  he  should  come 
off  in  the  post  steamer ;  but  my  cousin  says  they 
came  on  board  early  in  the  morning,  because  he 
was  so  ill." 

"  He  wished  me  to  find  his  daughter." 


76  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,   OR 

"  Do  you  speak  of  my  father?"  said  Miss  Fen- 
nimore,  raising  her  head  a  little. 

"  Yes;  he  is  quite  sick,  and  desires  to  see  you. 
I  have  just  assisted  him  to  his  berth.  I  will  tell 
him  you  are  sick,"  I  replied. 

"  No ;  I  will  go  to  him.  Poor  father  !  he  is  very 
feeble,  and  his  -is  not  seasickness." 

She  rose  from  her  reclining  posture  on  the  seat, 
and  a  roll  of  the  ship  would  have  thrown  her 
down,  if  Miles  had  not  caught  her  arm. 

"  I  will  take  you  down,"  said  he. 

"  Don't  leave  me,  Miles,"  groaned  Mrs.  Grimsby. 

"  My  mother  is  very  bad ;  perhaps  Mr.  Farring- 
ford  will  assist  you,  Blanche." 

"  Certainly,"  I  replied,  promptly  offering  my 
arm,  which  she  took. 

Being  an  old  sailor,  I  was  entirely  at  home  on 
the  uneasy  deck,  and  safely  conducted  my  fair 
charge  down  to  the  main  deck. 

"  Do  you  feel  any  worse  for  moving?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes  ;  I  can  hardly  stand ;  let  me  sit  down  for 
a  moment." 

I  conducted  her  to  a  sofa,  and  then  went  to 
the  cabin  for  a  lemon,  which  I  offered  to  her. 
She  gasped  her  thanks,  and  following  my  direc- 


THE  STEUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIEK.        77 

tion,  swallowed  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
lemon  juice.  In  a  few  moments  she  declared 
that  she  felt  a  little  better,  and  was  ready  to  go 
below. 

"  Is  my  father  worse  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  fear  he  is ;  and  I  am  afraid  it  is  not  sea-, 
sickness,"  I  replied. 

"  No ;  he  has  been  in  failing  health  for  a  long 
time.     I  hope  this  journey  will  help  him." 

"  We  have  done  what  we  could  for  him,  and  my 
friend  is  taking  care  of  him  now." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  and  I  thank  you  great- 
ly.    Your  friend  is  very  good." 

"  He  is  a  noble  fellow.  Only  three  clays  ago  he 
saved  my  life  at  the  peril  of  his  own,. though  I  had 
never  seen  him  before.  Pie  is  always  trying  to 
help  some  one." 

We  reached  the  state-room  of  Mr.  Fennimore, 
where  Larry  was  still  at  work  over  his  patient. 
He  had  placed  the  trunks  under  the  lower 
berth,  and  put  everything  in  order  in  the  little 
apartment.  I  introduced  him  to  Miss  Fennimore, 
as  we  entered.  He  received  her  with  extravagant 
deference,  and  placed  a  stool  for  her  use  at  the 
side  of  her  father's  berth. 


78  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  come,  Blanche,"  moaned 
her  father. 

"  You  are  very  sick,  father !  "  exclaimed  she, 
anxiously. 

"  I  shall  soon  be  better.  I  missed  you  very 
much,"  he  added. 

"  I  found  her  quite  ill  with  seasickness,"  I 
interposed. 

"  Poor  child  !  "  said  he.  "  I  hoped  she  would 
not  be  sick ;  but  she  was  never  at  sea  before." 

"  I  am  better  now,  father,"  replied  she,  trying 
to  be  cheerful;  but.  I  saw  that  it  was  very  up- 
hill work. 

"  I  have  had  a  kind  friend  and  nurse  in  Mr. 
Grimsby,"  added  the  sick  man. 

'■  I  am  very  grateful  to  him.  How  much  he 
looks  like  Miles !  I  am  not  surprised  at  the 
mistake  you  made,  Mr.  Farringford." 

"  I  made  the  same  mistake,"  continued  Mr. 
Fennimore,  very  feebly. 

He  seemed  to  me  to  be  in  a  dangerous  con- 
dition, and  I  advised  the  calling  of  the  doctor; 
but  the  invalid  would  not  consent  to  it,  and 
Larry  and  I  left  him  to  the  tender  ministrations 
of   his   daughter,   asking    her    to    knock   on   the 


THE   STEUGGLES   OP   A  SOLDIER.  79 

partition  which  separated  our  room  from  Mr.  Fen- 
nimore's,  if  she  needed  any  assistance.  We  did 
not  dare  to  say  anything  about  the  remarkable 
events  of  the  day,  lest  the  innocent  daughter 
should  overhear  it.  We  busied  ourselves  for  a 
time  in  putting  the  room  in  order ;  but  in  less. 
than  half  an  hour,  we  heard  tne  knock  on  the 
partition. 


80  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  VI. 

IN  WHICH   PHIL    HAS  A  MELANCHOLY  PASSAGE  ACROSS 
THE   ATLANTIC. 

LARRY  and  I  returned  to  the  state-room  of 
Mr.  Fennimore.  Blaache  was  still  very- 
pale,  but  her  anxiety  about  her  father  seemed  to 
have  overcome  her  own  tendency  to  seasickness. 
Possibly  the  lemon  which  she  still  used  had  some 
effect.  She  said  nothing  about  herself;  all  her 
thought  was  for  her  father,  who  was  suffering 
severe  pain,  probably  increased  by  the  uneasy 
motion  of  the  ship.  Mr.  Fennimore  had.consented 
that  the  surgeon  should  be  called,  and  I  went  for 
him.  He  made  a  careful  examination  of  the 
patient,  and  prescribed  medicines  for  him.  He 
looked  very  serious,  but  he  expressed  no  decided 
opinion  in  regard  to  the  result. 

Though   I  had    had   very   little    experience    in 
sickness,  I  believed  that  the   defaulter  had  worn 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A  'SOLDIER.  81 

himself  out  with  the  anxiety  which  his  crime 
produced.  He  was  very  feeble  when  I  first  saw 
him,  and  in  a  state  of  tremulous  anxiety.  I  had 
no  doubt  that  often,  when  he  should  have  been  in 
his  bed  at  home,  he  had  gone  to  the  bank,  goaded 
thither  by  a  fear  of  discovery.  He  had  evidently 
sapped  out  the  fountains  of  vitality  in  his  system, 
and  I  felt  that  crime  was  the  cruelest  taskmaster 
in  the  world.  His  safety  for  a  time  seemed  to  be 
assured  as  soon  as  the  steamer  was  in  blue  water. 
The  excitement  which  had  strained  his  nerves  to 
their  utmost  tension  was  partially  removed,  pnd 
there  seemed  to  be  nothing  now  to  sustain  him. 
As  soon  as  the  pressure  was  abated  he  sank  under 
the  change. 

1  went  out  when  the  doctor  did,  and  asked  him 
a  question  in  regard  to  the  patient.  After  I  had 
told  him  that  the  sick  man  was  not  my  relative,  he 
spoke  with  more  freedom.  He  declared  that  Mr. 
Fennimore  was  a.  very  sick  man  ;  one  who  had 
probably  exhausted  all  his  vitality  in  attending 
too  closely  to  his  business ;  there  was  nothing  left 
of  him.  He  declined  to  express  an  opinion  in 
regard  to  the  result  of  the  sickness,  but  said 
he  considered  the  invalid  in  a  very  dangerous 
6 


82  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

condition,  and  that  the  ship  was  the  worst  place 
in  the  world  for  him. 

I  cannot  follow  the  case  into  its  details.  Mr. 
Fennimore  grew  worse  every  day,  and  even  every 
hour.  Poor  Blanche  was  almost  helpless,  for  the 
sea  was  rough,  and  she  was  able  to  do  very  little. 
Larry  was  with  the  sick  man  day  and  night, 
nursing  him  as  tenderly  and  carefully  as  though 
the  sufferer  had  been  his  own  father.  Mrs. 
Grimsby  was  still  down  with  seasickness,  and 
unable  to  leave  her  berth.  I  did  all  that  Larry 
would  permit  me  to  do,  which  was  hardly  three  or 
four  hours'  service  at  night  while  he  slept.  I  re- 
garded him  as  a  wonderful  fellow,  for  while  he 
appeared  to  have  no  high  moral  or  religious 
principle,  he  was  willing  to  wear  himself  out  in 
the  service  of  others.  He  kept  Blanche  from  her 
father's  room  as  much  as  possible,  and  two  or 
three  times  every  day  I  walked  with  her  on  deck. 
She  talked  of  nothing  but  her«father,  and  I  could 
say  very  little  to  comfort  her,  for  I  knew  that 
the  doctor  now  regarded  the  case  as  almost  hope- 
less. I  told  Larry  to  walk  with  Miss  Fennimore ; 
but,  singular  being  that  he  was,  he  would  never 
do  it,  though  he  made   no  secret  to  me  of  his 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A    SOLDIER.  83 

admiration,  and  even  his  love,  for  the  young  iady. 
He  kept  his  post  at  the  sick  bed  of  her  father. 

After  one  of  these  walks  with  Blanche,  on  the 
sixth  day  from  New  York,  I  returned  with  her  to 
Mr.  Fennimore's  room.  Larry  followed  me  into 
our  own  apartment,  leaving  the  daughter  to  take 
care  of  the  sufferer.  He  looked  very  serious  and 
strange  to  me,  and  I  was  sure  that  he  had  some- 
thing to  say,  before  he  opened  his  mouth. 

"  Phil,"  said  he,  looking  into  my  face,  but 
quickly  lowering  his  gaze  to  the  floor. 

"Well,  Larry?" 

He  looked  at  me,  then  through  the  port,  and  on 
the  floor. 

"  What  were  you  going  to  say  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Did  you  ever  pray,  Phil  ? "  he  added,  a's  if 
speaking  with  a  desperate  effort. 

"  Certainly.  I  do  so  every  day ;  and  I  hope 
you  do." 

"  I  never  did  such  a  thing  in  all  my  life.  I 
always  looked  upon  it  as  buncombe  and  humbug ; 
but  I  am  beginning  to  change  my  mind.  I  never 
saw  a  man  suffer  so  much  in  his  mind  as  Mr.  Fen- 
nimore  does.  It  is  really  horrible.  You  were 
right  about  robbing  banks,  and  such  things.     It 


84  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OK 

don't  pay.  I  would  rather  live  on  half  rations  for 
forty  years,  than  endure  what  Fennimore  suffers 
in  ten  minutes.  He  asked  me  to  pray  with  him, 
while  you  were  walking  with  Blanche.  He  could 
hardly  speak,  but  he  was  in  earnest.  I  told 
him  I  couldn't  do  it;  had  never  done  such  a 
thing  in  my  life ;  but  that  I  would  speak  to  you 
about  it." 

"  Isn't  there  a  clergyman  on  board,  among  the 
passengers  ?  " 

"  That's  what  I  suggested  to  him ;  but  he  does 
not  wish  to  see  any  strangers.  Can't  you  pray 
with  him,  Phil?  It  will  do  him  a  power  of  good, 
I  think." 

"  I  will,  if  he  desires  it,"  I  answered,  taking  my 
Bible  from  the  shelf. 

"  Between  you  and  me,  Phil,  you  will  be  too 
late  if  you  don't  do  it  soon,"  whispered  Larry, 
very  seriously.  "  I  don't  believe  he  will  hold  out 
another  day." 

"  I  will  go  to  him  at  once,"  I  replied,  and  left 
the  room. 

I  had  hardly  entered  his  apartment  before  Mr. 
Fennimore,  in  a  scarcely  audible  voice,  introduced 
the  subject  upon  which  Larry  had  spoken  to  me. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  85 

I  saw  that  he  was  suffering  terribly  in  view  of  the 
near  approach  of  death. 

Blanche  was  weeping,  and  I  was  confident  that 
he  had  told  her  he  had  not  long  to  live.  I  had 
never  before  seen  greater  human  agony  than 
was  depicted  on  his  wan  face,  and  I  have  not 
since  ;  and  the  mental  anguish  was  vastly  greater 
than  the  physical.  Larry  soon  followed  me,  and 
then,  with  difficulty,  Mr.  Fennimore  asked  his 
daughter  to  leave  him  for  a  few  moments.  Under 
ordinary  circumstances,  this  would  have  been  a 
strange  request ;  but  I  understood  the  sufferer's 
motives,  and  I  seconded  his  desire,  though  I  do 
not  believe,  if  the  whole  truth  in  regard  to  her 
father's  crime  had  been  revealed  to  her  at  that 
moment,  it  would  have  checked  the  current  of  her 
filial  love.  I  would  not  have  impaired  her  con- 
fidence in  him  for  all  the  world.  Larry  gently  led 
her  from  the  state-room. 

"  Pray  for  me,  Mr.  Farringford,''  gasped  the 
invalid,  with  a  violent  effort. 

"Shall  I  read  you  a  few  verses  from  the  New 
Testament  first  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Anything  that  will  tell  me  whether  God  can 
forgive  one  who  has  sinned  as  I  have  sinned," 
groaned  he. 


86  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

I  was  familiar  enough  with  the  sacred  writings 
to  find  the  passages  most  appropriate  to  his  con- 
dition. Then  I  talked  to  him  for  a  few  minutes. 
I  repeated  what  I  had  read,  that  Christ  on  the 
cross  had  assured  the  repentant  malefactor  of  his 
pardon.  I  urged  upon  him  the  necessity  of 
making  all  the  restitution  in  his  power  for  the 
crime  he  had  committed. 

"  I  will !  I  will  ! "  exclaimed  he,  with  all  the 
vehemence  his  feebleness  would  permit.  "  Take 
that  valise,  Mr.  Farringford,  and  return  the  money 
to  the  bank.  I  can  do  no  more  than  this,  and  my 
daughter  may  suffer  from  want  because  I  do  this. 

0  God,  forgive  me  for  Christ's  sake ! "  groaned  he, 
as  the  scene  of  his  guilt  weighed  down  his  soul, 
now  ready  to  wing  its  flight  from  the  mortal  body. 
Deeply  moved  by  what  I  saw  and  heard,  I  knelt 
down  before  his  berth,  and  prayed  for  him  with  all 
the  earnestness  which  my  pitying  heart  demanded 
of  me.  Nothing  more  sincere  had  ever  passed  my 
lips,  and  as  I  proceeded,  the  penitent  defaulter 
uttered  the  most  devout  invocations  for  pardon. 

1  finished,  and  then  repeated  to  him  some  of  the 
hymns  I  had  learned,  which  illustrate  the  mercy 
and   forgiveness   of    God   to    the    truly    penitent. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.        87 

They  comforted  him  even  more  than  the  prayer. 
But  he  was  exhausted,  and  could  no  longer  utter  a 
word ;  yet  his  face  looked  more  serene  and  placid. 
I  asked  him  if  he  felt  more  at  peace,  and  he  nodded 
his  head.  Blanche  and  Larry  returned,  but  I  con- 
tinued to  repeat  the  hymns  to  him.  I  wished  I 
could  sing,  but  I  could  not.  I  had  heard  a  party 
of  ladies  and  gentlemen  sing  "  Nearer,  my  God,  to 
thee,"  on  Sunday,  and  I  left  the  cabin  to  find 
them.  I  asked  them  to  sing  this  hymn  near  the 
bedside  of  the  dying  man,  and  they  promptly  con- 
sented. I  placed  them  in  the  gangway  near  the 
door,  and  then  told  Mr.  Fennimore  what  I  had 
done.  He  smiled  then  —  what  I  had  never  seen 
him  do  before.  The  ladies  and  gentlemen  sang 
the  beautiful  hymn  in  tender  and  subdued  tones. 
The  dying  man  listened  as  though  it  were  the 
music  of  a  choir  of  angels  hovering  over  his 
couch.  Repeatedly  he  smiled  as  he  pressed  the 
hand  of  Blanche,  and  I  realized  that  he  was  at 
peace. 

The  doctor  frequently  came  to  the  state-room. 
From  the  beginning  he  had  done  everything  it 
was  possible  for  a  good  physician  to  do.  Among 
the  passengers  was  an  English  medical  gentleman 


88  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OE 

of  considerable  celebrity,  who  was  called  in  for 
consultation  ;  so  we  felt  that  every  possible  thing 
had  been  done  for  the  patient.  Mr.  Fennimore 
was  calm  and  peaceful  now,  and  we  left  him  alone 
with  Blanche  for  a  time.  Late  in  the  evening  he 
wished  to  see  me  again.  More  by  signs  than  by 
words  'he  made  me  understand  that  I  was  to  open 
the  valise  and  take  therefrom  his  ill-gotten  wealth. 
I  did  so. 

"  Send  the  money  to  the  bank,"  said  he,  in  a 
hardly  audible  whisper. 

I  promised  to  do  what  he  desired,  and  I  realized 
that  this  act  was  a  great  comfort  and  consolation 
to  him. 

"  Did  Blanche  know  you  had  this  money  ?  "  I 
inquired. 

"No;  no  one  knew  it.  Send  it  back — I  shall 
die  in  peace." 

With  a  heavy  sense,  of  responsibility  resting 
upon  me,  I  placed  the  large  sum  in  my  trunk.  I 
did  not  deem  it  advisable  even  to  mention  the 
matter  to  Larry.  Contrary  to  all  our  expectations, 
Mr.  Fennimore  lived  two  days  longer  ;  and  I  think 
his  life  was  prolonged  by  the  peace  he  had  found 
in  penitence  and   pardon.     Several  times  a  day  I 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  89 

read  the  Scriptures  to  him,  and  prayed  with  him. 
The  singers  sang  several  hymns  near  his  room,  to 
which  he  listened  in  enraptured  silence.  Blanche 
was  more  reconciled  when  her  father  became  so 
gentle  and  peaceful.  She  was  tolerably  calm  in 
his  presence,  but  she  wept  incessantly  Avhen  away 
from  him.  The  passengers  were  full  of  sympathy, 
and  the  poor  girl  had  no  lack  of  comforters 
among  those  of  her  own  sex  who  had  passed 
through  a  similar  experience. 

On  the  ninth  day  from  New  York,  the  green 
shores  of  Ireland  were  in  sight ;  but  Mr.  Fen- 
nimore  was  rapidly  sinking.  After  dinner,  the 
party  of  singers  had  just  finished  the  last  line 
of  "  I  would  not  live  alway,"  when  Larry  whis- 
pered that  a  sudden  change  had  come  over  the 
sufferer.  I  went  to  his  berth.  His  face  was 
calm  and  placid  as  the  sleep  of  an  infant.  He  had 
passed  away.  The  last  sweet  strains  of  earthly 
music  which  soothed  his  mortal  sense  had  been 
mingled  with  those  of  angelic  choirs,  as  this 
mortal  put  on  immortality.  In  spite  of  his  great 
crime,  I  could  not  but  believe  that  all  was  well 
with  him,  for  he  had  thrown  himself  upon  the 
mercy  of  God  in  Christ,  and  done  all  he  could  to 


90  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

atone  for  his  errors.  I  closed  his  eyes,  and 
Blanche  sank  upon  the  sofa  in  a  paroxysm  of 
grief. 

After  a  time,  her  aunt  led  her  away,  and  the 
chief  steward  performed  the  necessary  offices 
upon  the  remains.  It  was  midnight  when  we 
arrived  at  Queenstown.  An  order  was  sent  for- 
ward, by  a  passenger,  to  Liverpool,  for  an  under- 
taker to  make  the  arrangements  for  conveying  the 
remains  to  Bloomridge,  in  Staffordshire,  where  the 
Grimsbys  resided. 

"  Phil,  I  shall  never  forget  this  voyage,"  said 
Larry,  the  next  day,  as  the  ship  was  going  up  the 
Channel. 

"  Neither  shall  I  ever  forget  it,"  1  replied.  "  I 
expected  to  have  a  good  time  on  the  passage,  but 
it  has  been  one  of  the  saddest  seasons  of  my  life." 

"  That's  so ;  and  I  have  been  hard  at  work  most 
of  the  time  ;  but  I  must  say  I  am  better  satisfied 
with  myself  than  I  ever  was  before." 

"  You  have  behaved  nobly,  Larry." 

"  Never  mind  that.  I  have  seen  more  of  life 
than  I  ever  dreamed  of  before.  I  have  been  a 
reckless  fellow.  I  never  believed  much  in  reli- 
gion, goodness,  and  such  kind  of  things  ;  but  after 


THE  STEUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        91 

following  Mr.  Fennimore  to  the  end,  I  have  altered 
my  mind/'  said  he,  very  seriously.  "  That  man 
was  miserable  beyond  anything  I  ever  saw  or 
imagined  ;  and  I  wouldn't  rob  a  bank  now,  even 
if  I  had  as  good  a  chance  as  he  had,  though  I 
don't  know  that  I  have  as  much  conscience  as  he 
had." 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you  taking  a  reasonable  view 
of  these  things." 

"  Reasonable  !  See  here,  Phil,"  he  added,  taking 
a  paper  from  his  pocket  and  unfolding  it. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  I  asked,  curiously. 

"  Look  at  it;  "  and  he  handed  the  paper  to  me. 

It  was  one  of  the  blank  forms  of  a  letter  of 
credit,  such  as  I  had,  with  the  signature  of  the 
banking  firm  upon  it. 

"  What  of  it?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Don't  you  remember  that  paper  ? " 

"  I  don't  particularly  remember  this  one." 

"  When  you  obtained  your  letter  of  credit,  you 
know  the  clerk  handed  out  two  or  three  of  these 
things." 

"  0,  yes ;  I  remember  now  ;  but  where  did  you 
get  this  ?  " 

'•  While  the  clerk  was  filling  out   your  letter, 


92  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,    OR 

I  folded  up  one  of  the  blanks  and  put  it  in  my 
pocket/'"  he  replied,  looking  much  ashamed  of 
himself. 

"  What  for?  What  use  can  this  empty  blank  be 
to  you  ?  " 

"  None  now,"  he  answered,  taking  the  paper 
from  my  hand,  tearing  it  into  small  pieces  with 
considerable  vigor,  and  then  throwing  them  over- 
board.    "  That's  all." 

"  I  really  don't  understand  you,  Larry,"  I  added, 
puzzled  by  his  conduct. 

"  Don't  you  ?  Then  perhaps  you  give  me  credit 
for  being  a  better  fellow  than  I  am.  I  shall  go 
to  work  in  Liverpool,  if  I  can  find  a  job  in  a 
printing  office  ;  if  not,  I  shall  ship  for  home  as  a 
common  sailor." 

u  I  have  thought  your  plans  were  rather  loosely 
laid,  but  I  don't  comprehend  you  yet." 

"  You  are  a  little  thick,  Phil,  in  some  things. 
You  have  saved  me  from  —  Well,  I  don't  know 
what  you  have  saved  me  from." 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  I  have  saved  you  from 
anything." 

"  Yes,  you  have  ;  you  haven't  preached  much  at 
me  ;  if  you  had,  it  would  have  done  me  no  good. 
But  you  have  hit  me  all  the  harder." 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  93 

"  Tell  me  what  you  mean." 

"  I  intended  to  fill  out  that  blank,  draw  the 
money  on  it,  and  have  a  good  time  in  Europe  for 
a  year  or  two,"  he  replied,  desperately,  as  if  the 
confession  was  too  shameful  to  be  made. 

I  understood  him  then. 


94  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 


CHAPTER  VII. 

IN  WHICH   PHIL  AND  HIS  FRIEND   VISIT  GRIMSBY  HALL, 
AND   ARE   PRESENT   AT   A   MELANCHOLY   OCCASION. 


/|~Y  motto  from  the  beginning  had  been, 
JL  "  Upward  and  Onward."  Pei'haps  I  ought 
not  to  say  it,  but  I  had  distinctly  set  before 
myself  the  purpose  of  becoming  a  good  and  true 
man,  whatever  else  I  was.  I  made  mistakes, 
many  and  grievous  ones,  but  I  tried  to  do  my 
duty.  I  had  always  been  afraid  of  evil  com- 
panions, and,  as  I  have  before  remarked,  I  did  not 
like  the  character  of  Larry  Grimsby.  He  had  no 
high  aims,  no  moral  principle,  to  guide  and  control 
his  life.  But,  whatever  he  had  said,  I  did  not 
believe  him  capable  of  the  crime  he  confessed  to 
have  meditated. 

The  blank  letter  of  credit  was  signed  by  the 
banking  firm.  But  filling  it  out  and  "  uttering " 
it  were  no  less  a  crime  than  if  he  had  added  the 


THE   STRUGGLES    OP    A    SOLDIER.  95 

further  act  of  forging  the  signature  of  the  bankers. 
I  understood  his  plan  now.  He  had  expended  all 
his  money  in  the  purchase  of  his  steamer  ticket, 
and  he  intended  to  replenish  his  exchequer  to  a 
liberal  extent  by  drawing  on  this  letter.  Prob- 
ably he  considered  that  being  with  me,  who  had  a 
genuine  credit,  Avould  remove  all  doubts  in  regard 
to  his  own ;  indeed,  he  acknowledged  as  much  to 
me.  But  he  had  destroyed  the  blank,  and  an- 
nounced his  intention  of  going  to  work,  or  return- 
ing to  New  York. 

"  I  did  not  think  you  would  do  such  a  thing,"  I 
said,  sadly. 

"  I  knew  I  would,  if  I  got  a  good  chance.  But 
that's  all  gone  by  now.  After  witnessing  the 
sufferings  of  poor  Mr.  Fennimore,  I  would  starve 
rather  than  do  such  a  thing.  I  don't  like  cant, 
Phil,  but  my  eyes  have  been  opened.  I  would 
give  all  my  old  boots,  if  I  had  any,  to  be  half  as 
good  as  you  are,  my  boy." 

"  I  hope  you  will  try  to  be  better  than  I  am." 

"  That's  humbug,  Phil.  You  know  you  are 
a  saint." 

"  I  know  that  I  am  a  sinner,  but  I  am  trying  to 
do  right ;  that  is  all  I  Can  say  for  myself." 


96  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OE 

"  Never  mind,  Phil :  I  don't  believe  you  are  a 
hypocrite.  If  you  had. been,  you  couldn't  have 
done  so  much  for  poor  Mr.  Fennimore.  Why,  you 
lifted  him  right  up,  and  made  a  new  man  of  him. 
I  believe  there  is  something  in  religion  now.  I 
never  thought  there  was  before.  I'm  going  to 
try  to  be  a  better  fellow." 

"  If  you  try,  I  know  you  will  succeed.  You 
have  a  good  heart,  with  noble  and  generous  emo- 
tions. You  are  entirely  unselfish,  and  are  willing 
to  wear  yourself  out  in  the  service  of  others." 

"  Thank  you,  Phil.  I  always  mean  to  stand 
by  a  fellow  as  long  as  there  is  anything  left 
of  him." 

"  All  you  need  is  a  high  moral  and  religious 
principle." 

"  I  intend  to  look  into  that  matter,"  said  he, 
thoughtfully.  "But  I  suppose  we  must  part  as 
soon  as  we  land." 

"  I  hope  not,"  I  replied. 

"  Of  course  we  must ;  I  haven't  ten  shillings  in 
the  world." 

"  0,  I  shall  be  glad  to  help  you  out,"  I  added, 
warmly. 

"  No,  Phil ;  you  have  done  enough  for  me ;  but 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.        97 

the  biggest  thing  you  did  was  to  save  me  from 
filling  out  that  blank."    ♦ 

"  But  I  have  not  done  half  so  much  for  you  as 
you  have  for  me." 

"  There,  there  ;  no  more  of  that.  I  don't  want 
any  of  your  gratitude." 

"  Yet  that  was  precisely  in  your  own  strain. 
Here  are  ten  sovereigns,  Larry ;  and  I  won't  say 
another  word  about  what  you  have  done  for  me, 
unless  you  introduce  the  subject  yourself." 

"  I  won't  take  them,"  said  he,  doubtfully,  but 
evidently  tempted  to  do  so. 

"  You  must !  Would  you  compel  me  to  leave  a 
good  fellow  alone  in  a  foreign  land  without  any 
money  in  his  pocket,  when  I  have  plenty  ?  " 

"  As  a  loan,  Phil,  I  will  take  this  money,  for  I 
feel  that  I  need  it ;  but  I  solemnly  assure  you 
that,  if  I  ever  pay  any  debt  before  I  pay  the  debt 
of  nature,  this  shall  be  the  first  one,"  replied 
Larry,  as  he  slipped  the  gold  into  his  pocket. 

"  Don't  distress  yourself  about  it,  my  dear  fellow." 

Certainly  there   was  enough  of  good  in  Larry 
Grimsby  to  redeem  him  from  the  evil,  which  he" 
hardly  attempted  to  conceal,  but  rather  made  an 
affectation  of  displaying. 
7 


98  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,    OR 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  distress  myself  about  any- 
thing ;  but  I  am  more  likely  to  obtain  a  job  in 
London  than  in  Liverpool.  I  believe  your  great 
philosopher,  Franklin,  was  tolerably  successful 
there  in  my  line." 

We  hardly  saw  Blanche  Fennimore  during  the 
day,  for  she  remained  with  her  aunt  in  the  state- 
room. It  was  after  midnight  when  the  steamer 
anchored  in  the  Mersey,  and  few  of  the  passengers 
went  ashore  in  the  boat  which  came  off  for  the 
mails  and  those  who  desired  to  land  at  once.  At 
breakfast  Blanche  came  to  the  table,  the  very 
picture  of  misery.  Larry  and  I  waited  in  the 
saloon  till  she  was  ready  to  leave. 

"  I  suppose  we  must  part  here,  Miss  Fennimore," 
I  began,  as  we  met  her  at  the  door. 

"  Part  ?  "  she  replied. 

n  "We  go  direct  to  London." 

"  You  will  not  leave  me  now.  You  must  go  to 
Bloomridge  with  us,"  she  a'dded,  in  pleading  tones. 
"  You  were  so  kind  to  my  poor  father  and  to  me, 
that  I  cannot  endure  the  thought  of  parting  with 
you.  I  hope  you  will  attend  my  father's  funeral. 
I  am  sure  he  would  have  desired  it." 

"  We   did    not    know   what    arrangements   had 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  99 

been  made,  and  we  have  not  considered  the  sub- 
ject," I  answered. 

"  Let  me  speak  with  my  aunt  about  the  matter," 
said  she. 

She  followed  her  aunt  below,  and  presently 
Miles  Grimsby  came  to  us  with  an  invitation  to 
spend  the  time  till  after  the  funeral  at  Bloomridge. 
Though  I  was  in  a  hurry  to  reach  Italy,  I  felt 
obliged  to  accept  the  invitation,  out  of  regard  to 
the  feelings  of  poor  Blanche. 

The  undertaker  had  come  on  board  early  in  the 
morning,  and  the  remains  of  Mr.  Fennimore,  now 
placed  in  a  coffin,  were  conveyed  to  the  tug- 
steamer.  We  went  on  board  with  Blanche  and  the 
Grimsbys,  and  repaired  directly  to  the  Lime  Street 
station ;  but  we  were  obliged  to  wait  an  hour  for 
the  train.  This  afforded  me  time  to  attend  to  the 
last  wishes  of  the  deceased ;  and  I  had  written  a 
letter  on  board  the  steamer  to  the  president  of  the 
Lowerville  Bank,  whose  address  I  had  been  care- 
ful to  obtain  of  Mr.  Fennimore,  detailing  the 
events  which  had  occurred  on  the  passage.  I 
begged  him,  for  the  sake  of  Blanche,  to  let  the 
matter  rest  without  further  exposure,  since  the 
deceased  had  made  all  the  reparation  in  his  power. 


100  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

Taking  a  cab,  I  drove  to  the  bankers  upon  whom 
my  letter  of  credit  was  issued,  and  purchased  a 
bill  for  the  full  amount  intrusted  to  me  by  Mr. 
Fennimore.  This  I  sent  in  my  letter,  instructing 
the  bankers  to  forward  the  duplicates,  which  they 
promised  to  do.  I  posted  the  precious  document, 
and  felt  that  I  had  discharged  a  sacred  duty. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Phil  ? "  asked  Larry, 
when  I  returned  to  the  station. 

"To  the  bankers." 

"  You  robbed  yourself  when  you  loaned  me  the 
ten  pounds." 

"  Not  at  all ;  I  did  not  go  to  draw  money ;  "  and 
I  explained  to  him  what  had  transpired  between 
Mr.  Fennimore  and  myself  in  regard  to  the  stolen 
money.    " 

"  Send  it  all  back  !  "  exclaimed  he,  with  no  little 
astonishment. 

"  Every  penny  of  it  —  about  fifty  thousand 
dollars." 

"You  didn't  say  anything  to  me  about  this." 

"  No ;  it  was  a  matter  between  Mr.  Fennimore 
and  myself;  and  I  thought  it  had  better- remain  so 
until  the  business  was  finished." 

"  You  were  afraid  I  would  steal  the  money  if  I 
knew  you  had  it.     I  don't  blame  you  ;  but  —  " 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF   A   SOLDIER.  101 

"  I  was  not  afraid  you  would  steal  it,  and  my 
course  saved  all  argument  on  the  subject.  I  did 
not  know  but  you  might  think  it  your  duty  to 
speak  to  Blanche  or  the  Grimsbys  about  the 
money,  and  thus  complicate  the  matter." 

"  Of  course  I  should  not  have  said  anything 
to  them." 

"  You  might  have  spoken  of  the  money  without 
mentioning  the  crime." 

"  No,  I  should  not.  I  might  have  done  it  a 
week  ago,  but  not  three  days  ago.  After  Mr. 
Fennimore  had  ruined  himself  to  obtain  this 
money,  his  daughter  has  not  a  penny  to  show 
for  it." 

"  No ;  but  her  father  died  in  peace,  after  he  had 
given  me  the  money,  and.  instructed  me  to  restore 
it  to  the  rightful  owners.  That  is  something  to 
show  for  giving  it  up  —  isn't  it  ?  " 

"I  think  it  is;  and  you  are  right,  Phil,  as  you 
always  are ;  but  I  am  sorry  for  poor  Blanche, 
without  a  red  to  help  herself  with." 

"  Her  English  friends  are  wealthy,  and  she  wil1 
never  want  for  anything,"  I  replied. 

It  was  late  in  the  day  when  we  arrived  at 
Bloomridge,  and  took  carriages  for  Grimsby  Hall, 


102  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

a  mile  from  the  station.  Mrs.  Grimsby  and  Miles 
were  warmly  welcomed  by  the  family.  Blanche 
was  very  kindly,  and  even  tenderly,  received,  for 
her  bereaved  condition  excited  all  the  sympathies 
of  her  friends.  After  all  these  welcomes  had  been 
given,  and  condolences  extended,  Larry  and  my- 
self were  introduced.  The  family  consisted  of  Sir 
Philip  Grimsby,  and  his  son  Miles,  who  dwelt 
beneath  the  paternal  roof  with  his  wife,  his  son 
Miles,  and  two  daughters. 

I  had  never  before  seen  a  live  baronet,  and  I 
was  deeply  impressed  by  his  appearance,  but 
more  by  the  fact  that  he  was  a  baronet.  He  was 
rather  stiff  and  haughty  in  his  manners  at  first, 
and  I  regarded  him  with  much  deference  and 
humiliation.  But  Larry  did  not  seem  to  be  awed 
in  the  slightest  degree,  when  his  turn  came  to  be 
presented  to  the  old  gentleman. 

"Eh!"  exclaimed  the  baronet,  stepping  back, 
as  my  friend  advanced,  in  order  to  survey  his 
features  more  closely.  "  What  did  you  say  the 
name  was,  Miles  ? "  he  added,  turning  to .  his 
grandson. 

"Mr.  Grimsby,"  replied  Miles,  apparently 
amused  at  the  manner  of  his  grandfather. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  103 

"  Grimsby !  Upon  my  life,  he  looks  like  one 
of  us  !  "  added  Sir  Philip.  "  I'm  glad  to  see  you, 
Mr.  Grimsby." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Larry,  stepping  for- 
ward, and  extending  his  hand  —  a  familiarity  in 
which  I  had  not  ventured  to  indulge. 

The  baronet  took  the  offered  hand,  but  he  still 
continued  to  regard  with  the  closest  scrutiny  the 
face  of  my  friend.  ' 

"He  looks. like  you,  Miles,"  added  he.  "But 
upon  my  life,  he  looks  more  like  your  uncle  that 
died.  Will  you  oblige  me  with  your  given  name, 
Mr.  Grimsby  ?  " 

"  I'm  generally  called  Larry,  sir." 

"  But  that's  a  nickname." 

"  It  certainly  labors  under  that  imputation." 

"  For  what  is  Larry  a  nickname,  sir  ?  "  asked 
Sir  Philip. 

"  For  Lawrence,  sir.  I  was  entered  on  the 
steamer's  passenger  list  as  Lawrence  Grimsby," 
replied  Larry,  with  easy  assurance. 

"  Lawrence  Grimsby  !  "  exclaimed  the  baronet, 
dropping  into  a  chair,  as  if  overcome  by  some  un- 
explained emotion. 

But  he  soon  appeared  to  become  conscious  that 


104  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

he  was  acting  in  an  unusual  manner,  and  rose 
from  his  chair. 

"  Gentlemen,  you  are  welcome  to  Grimsby  Hall. 
We  dine  at  six.  Breck,  show  the  gentlemen  the 
rooms  prepared  for  them,"  he  added,  turning  to  a 
servant. 

Each  of  our  apartments,  which  were  connected, 
was  large  enough  for  a  ball-room,  and  furnished  in 
a  heavy,  substantial,  old-fashioned  style.  Breck 
boWed  low  to  us,  but  he  was  as  solemn  as  an  owl. 
He  suggested  all  sorts  of-  wants,  some  of  which 
we  could  not  understand  in  our  republican  sim- 
plicity, and  we  declined  everything.  He  told  us 
that  the  remains  of  Mr.  Fennimore  had  been 
placed  in  the  chapel,  and  that  the  funeral  must 
take  place  the  next  day.  Then  he  was  considerate 
enough  to  leave  us.  I  opened  my  trunk,  and  put 
on  my  best  suit  of  black ;  but  when  I  found  that 
Larry  was  unable  to  make  any  change  in  his  ward- 
robe, I  resumed  my  travelling  suit.  My  friend, 
however,  looked  very  well,  but  he  was  certainly 
in  no  condition  to  attend  a  funeral.  We  were 
dressed  just  in  time  for  dinner.  A  chaplain  said 
grace  at  the  table,  and  the  affair  was  very  formal 
to  me.     Little  was  said,  and  everybody  seemed  to 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  105 

be  in  sympathy  with  poor  Blanche.  More  than  once 
I  saw  the  baronet  gazing  earnestly  at  Larry,  who 
sat  opposite  me ;  and  he,  in  his  turn,  looked  at 
Blanche,  who  was  at  my  side,  as  much  as  politeness 
would  justify,  perhaps  more. 

After  dinner,  I  suggested  to  Larry  that  we 
should  walk  down  to  Bloomridge,  which,  near  the 
station,  was  densely  peopled.  The  baronet  insisted 
that  we  should  take  a  "  dog  cart,"  and  we  were 
forced  to  comply.  The  man  drove  us  to  the  sta- 
tion, where  we  found  a  clothing  store. 

"  Now,  Larry,  you  must  have  a  full  suit  of 
black,"  said  I. 

"  I  can't  afford  it,"  he  promptly  replied. 

"  But  here  in  England  you  would  be  considered 
as  utterly  wanting  in  respect  for  the  living  and  the 
dead  if  you  should  appear  at  a  funeral  in  that  rig." 

"  I  can't  help  it." 

"  You  are  just  my  size  ;  let  me  buy  a  suit,  and  if 
you  don't  want  it  after  the  funeral,  I  will  take  it 
off  your  hands." 

1  carried  my  point.  The  tailor  had  a  coat  made 
for  another  person,  whom  he  was  willing  to  dis- 
appoint if  he  could  sell  an  additional  garment, 
which  was  just  a  fit  for  my  friend.     We  could  find 


106  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

neither  pants  nor  vests  to  match  it,  and  the  tailor 
agreed  to  make  new  ones  by  ten  o'clock  the  next 
day.  We  assented,  and  I  paid  half  the  price  of 
the  suit, -which  was  three  pounds,  and  we  returned 
to  the  hall  after  purchasing  such  other  articles  as 
we  needed. 

"  This  is  cutting  it  rather  fat  for  a  fellow  like 
me,"  said  Larry. 

"  Or  me  either,"  I  replied. 

"  You  are  not  exactly  a  vagabond,  as  I  am.  You 
have  plenty  of  money." 

"  It  is  only  by  accident  that  we  are  here.  We 
shall  be  off  in  a  day  or  two." 

"  I  don't  feel  in  a  hurry  to  go.  In  a  word,  I 
shall  feel  very  lonely  when  I  can  see  Blanche  no 
more,"  said  Larry,  sadly. 

"  Has  it  come  to  that  ?  " 

"  I  told  you  I  was  smitten  the  first  time  I  saw 
her.     'Pon  my  word,  I  think  she  is  an  angel." 

We  talked  of  this  matter  for  half  an  hour,  and 
were  then  invited  to  the  drawing-room.  Blanche 
was  there  for  a  short  time,  but  it  was  a  very 
solemn  assembly,  and  we  retired  early.  Punctual- 
ly at  the  appointed  hour,  the  black  suit  came  from 
the  tailor's,  and   I  paid  the   balance  of  the  bill. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       107 

The  funeral  was  to  be  at  twelve,  and  we  dressed 
for  the  occasion.  Larry  looked  like  another  per- 
son in  his  sombre  suit  of  black,  with  kid  gloves  of 
the  same  color.  He  seemed  to  have  got  rid  of  the 
rowdy  element  in  his  appearance,  and  looked  like 
a  sober  and  sedate  young  man.  We  attended  the 
funeral  of  Mr.  Fennimore,  which  was  solemnized 
at  a  neighboring  church.  Though  I  was  properly 
impressed  by  the  religious  services,  the  grief  of 
poor  Blanche  was  the  moving  element  of  the  occa- 
sion to  me.  The  remains  of  Mr.  Fennimore  were 
placed  in  a  tomb,  to  be  sent  to  America,  there  to 
be  finally  interred  by  the  side  of  his  wife.  Sadly 
we  returned  to  Grimsby  Hall,  and  Sir  Philip  made 
an  effort  to  restore  some  of  the  cheerfulness  which 
had  usually  pervaded  his  mansion ;  but  Blanche 
was  hardly  less  gloomy  than  before.  We  spent  a 
quiet  evening  in  the  drawing-room ;  but  at  ten 
o'clock  the  baronet  desired  to  see  Larry  and  my- 
self in  his  library,  and  we  promptly  obeyed  the 
summons. 


108  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

IN  WHICH   PHIL   SHOWS    THAT    HE    HAS   A.  TALENT   FOR 
KEEPING   STILL,   AND    LARRY   BECOMES   A   HERO. 

THE  library  of  the  baronet's  mansion  was  in 
keeping  with  the  rest  of  the  building,  and 
antique  carved  book-cases  were  suitable  for  ex- 
hibition in  the  Hotel  de  Cluny,  in  Paris.  The 
family  of  Sir  Philip  was  older  than  the  book-cases, 
and  the  talkative  Breck,  who  did  duty  in  our 
chambers  as  valet,  so  far  as  we  were  able  to  use 
the  services  of  such  a  functionary,  had  told  me 
that  it  was  even  more  noted  for  its  wealth  than  for 
its  antiquity. 

When  we  entered  the  library  the  baronet  was 
walking  up  and  down  the  apartment,  apparently 
studying  the  figures  in  the  carpet.  I  had  no 
suspicion  whatever  of  his  object  in  sending  for  us. 
His  manner  had  been  somewhat  strange,  and  I  had 
often  discovered  him   gazing  at  the  lace  of  my 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       109 

companion.  Even  in  the  church  I  had  observed 
that  he  paid  more  attention  to  Larry  than  to  the 
service,  which  certainly  was  not  proper  in  a  good 
churchman  ;  but  he  was  entirely  excusable  in  the 
light  of  subsequent  events.-  Sir  Philip  did  not 
appear  to  notice  us  when  we  entered.  A  small 
fire  of  soft  coal  was  blazing  cheerfully  in  the 
grate,  and  his  path  was  up  and  down  in  front  of  it. 
We  walked  up  to  a  position  opposite  the  grate, 
and  stopped  where  he  must  pass  us  on  his  return 
from  the  farther  end  of  the  room. 

"  The  old  gentleman  has  something  on  his 
mind,"  whispered  Larry. 

"  What  can  he  want  with  lis  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  I  think  he  wants  to  know  where  yoir  obtained 
his  name,  especially  as  you  look  so  much  like  his 
grandson,"  I  suggested. 

"  If  he  does  I  am  in  the  dark  on  that  subject. 
Here  he  comes  again." 

The  baronet  halted  when  he  saw  us,  and  fixed 
an  earnest  gaze  on  my  companion. 

"  Young  man,"  said  he,  compressing  his  lips 
after  he  had  uttered  the  words,  and  then  indul- 
ging in  a  long  and  trying  pause. 


110  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I'm  at  your  service,  sir,"  replied  Larry, 
politely. 

"  Young  man,  if  I  should  die  to-night —  "  And 
then  he  paused  again,  as  though  he  had  something 
awfully  impressive  to  say. 

"I  sincerely  hope  you  will  not  die  to-night,  Sir 
Philip,"  added  Larry.  "  If  you  do,  sir,  I  am  afraid 
I  could  not  remain  to  attend  the  funeral." 

"  Yes,  you  would  remain  a  week  to  attend  my 
funeral,  and  not  leave  even  after  you  had  seen  me 
comfortably  buried." 

"  Perhaps  I  should,  Sir  Philip.  I  really  hope 
you  will  live  many  years.  You  have  a  fine  place 
here,  and  I  should  say  that  you  had  every  means 
of  enjoying  yourself,"  answered  my  friend,  with 
easy  assurance.  "  I  hope  you  will  live  till  you 
are  a  hundred," 

"  Very  likely  you  will  change  your  mind  after 
you  know  more  about  yourself  and  me,"  added 
the  baronet,  evidently  pleased  with  the  answers 
of  Larry. 

"  I  don't  think  so,  Sir  Philip.  I'm  a  beggar 
myself;  but  I  don't  envy  any  man,  woman,  or 
child  on  the  face  of  the  footstool.  I  have  as  good 
a  time  as  I  can  in  the  world,  and  I  like  to  see 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  Ill" 

other  people  e<njoy  themselves,  even  if,  they  are 
lords,  and  baronets,  and  dukes." 

"  That's  kind  of  you,  and  the  lords,  dukes,  and 
baronets  ought  to  be  obliged  to  you  for  your  con- 
sideration," added  Sir  Philip,  chuckling  at  his  own 
humor,  rather  than  at  his  guest's.  "  Young  man, 
if  I  should  die  to-night  —  "  And  then  the  baronet 
was  very  serious  again,  making  another  long 
pause  in  this  place,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of 
composing  the  muscles  of  his  face. 

"  I  am  serious,  Sir  Philip,  when  I  say  again  that 
I  trust  you  will  not  die  to-night,"  added  Larry, 
who  perhaps  thought  that  the  pause  was  intended 
for  his  benefit,  and  to  afford  him  an  opportunity  to 
say  something. 

"  Young  man,  if  I  should  die  to-night  —  " 

The  baronet  paused  again,  and  I  observed  that 
he  was  much  agitated,  though  he  labored  to  sup- 
press his  emotion.  I  elbowed  Larry,  and  passing 
behind  him,  I  told  him  in  a  whisper  to  say  noth- 
ing ;  and  he  was  silent  this  time.  Sir  Philip's  lips 
worked  as  he  struggled  to  keep  clown  his  emotion, 
and  I  thought  he  had  some  doubts  as  to  whether 
or  not  he  should  utter  what  was  upon  his  mind. 

"■  Young  man,  if  I  should  die    to-night,  in  the 


112  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

morning  you  would  be  Sir  Lawrence  Grimsby," 
continued  the  baronet,  finishing  the  sentence  this 
time  as  with  a  desperate  effort. 

As  soon  as  he  had  uttered  the  astounding 
sentence,  he  turned  and  marched  rapidly  towards 
the  farther  end  of  the  room. 

"  Here's  a  go  !  "  said  Larry,  glancing  at  me,  with 
a  queer  smile  on  his  face.  "  The  old  gentleman 
has  a  weak  spot  in  his  head,  or  else  he  means  to 
get  up  a  thundering  sensation." 

"  He  is  in  earnest,"  I  replied.  "  You  saw  his 
emotion." 

"  I  did ;  but  I'm  afraid  the  old  gentleman  is 
crazy.  Of  course  what  he  says  is  all  bosh," 
laughed  Larry. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  let  us  wait  and  hear  the  con- 
clusion of  the  whole  matter." 

My  friend  certainly  took  the  astounding  an- 
nouncement with  the  utmost  coolness.  For  my 
own  part,  I  knew  not  what  to  make  of  it,  though 
of  course  I  could  not  help  thinking  of  Larry's 
wonderful  resemblance  to  Miles  Grimsb}7,  and  the 
fact  that  he  bore  the  family  name  of  the  baronet. 
Sir  Philip  continued  to  walk  the  room,  leaving  us 
in  a  very   awkward   and   embarrassing    situation, 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP  A   SOLDIER.  113 

and  we  impatiently  waited  for  the  development  of 
his  humor.  In  a  few  moments  he  dropped  into  a 
large  arm-chair  at  the  side  of  the  grate. 

"  Sit  down,"  said  he,  pointing  to  a  couple  of 
chairs  opposite  him. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Larry,  as  he  obeyed 
the  command,  and  I  followed  his  example. 

"  What's  your  name  ? "  demanded  Sir  Philip, 
brusquely. 

"  Lawrence  Grimsby,"  replied  Larry,  in  the 
same  quick  business  tones. 

"  Where  did  you  get  that  name  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  Who  are  your  parents  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  Where  were  you  born  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  How  old  are  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  ?  " 

"  I  do,  sir." 

"  What  ?  " 

"  That  you  are  a  Yevy  singular  old  baronet,  Sir 
Philip." 

"  Good  !     Upon  my  life,  ycu  are  rather   more 


114  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

than  half  right,"  chuckled  the  baronet,  as  he  rose 
and  rung  the  bell,  which  was  instantly  answered 
by  Breck. 

"  Champagne,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  laconical- 
ly, as  the  man  appeared  and  disappeared  almost  in 
the  same  instant.  "  Yes,  I'm  a  queer  old  fellow ; 
but  I'm  not  a  bad  man." 

" You  bet !  " 

"  Sir  ?  "  interrogated  the  baronet,  evidently  un- 
able to  comprehend  Larry's  western  Americanism. 

"  You  remarked,  Sir  Philip,  that  you  are  not  a 
bad  man.  You  "can  bet  on  that,"  explained  Larry  ; 
and  I  confess  that  his  easy  familiarity  shocked  and 
alarmed  me. 

"  I  can  repeat  with  unction  the  words  of  the 
Litany,  and  call  myself  a  miserable  sinner,  and 
upon  my  life  I  believe  it.  I  have  left  undone 
those  things  which  I  ought  to  have  done,  and  I 
have  done  those  things  which  I  ought  not  to  have 
done,"  added  the  baronet,  more  seriously. 

"  That's  just  what  Phil  says,  though  not  exactly 
in  those  words,"  added  Larry,  glibly. 

"  Pray,  who's  Phil  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Farringford  here,  sir.  He  is  about  the 
only  real  friend  I  have  in  the  world,  and  he's  a 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  115 

right  down  good  fellow  —  pious,  too.  He  lias 
opened  my  eyes  wider  in  a  week  than  I  ever 
could  get  them  in  my  whole  lifetime  before." 

"  Never  mind  Phil  now,"  said  the  baronet, 
rather  petulantly. 

"  He  is  not  a  cipher,  Sir  Philip." 

"  I  have  no  fault  to  find  with  him.  I  may  say 
that  I  am  very  glad  to  find  you  in  the  company  of 
so  estimable  a  young  gentleman  ;  butive  will  speak 
of  something  else." 

"  I  desire  to  be  entirely  ignored,  sir  ;  and  if 
you  wish,  I  will  leave  the  room,"  I  interposed. 

"  Not  necessary,  Mr.  Farringford.  You  seem  to 
have  a  talent  for  holding  your  tongue  ;  and  I  have 
no  doubt  you  will  be  able  to  keep  to  yourself 
whatever  we  wish  to  conceal." 

"  I  will  betray  no  one's  confidence,"  I  replied. 

"  All  right,  Phil ;  don't  leave  me,"  added  Larry. 

"  He  need  not  leave  you,  Lawrence,"  said  Sir 
Philip.     "  Now  we  will  attend  to  business." 

"  Precisely  so,  sir.     You  were  saying  —  " 

"Hold  up!  the  champagne  comes,"  interposed 
the  old  gentleman,  checking  Larry's  remark,  as 
Breck  entered  the  room  with  a  bottle  and  several 
glasses  on  a  salver. 


116  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

The  well-trained  servant  deposited  the  tray  on  a 
table,  and  then  popped  the  bottle  of  champagne. 
Filling  three  glasses,  he  placed  them  on  a  small 
salver,  and  passed  them  first  to  me. 

"  No,  I  thank  you  ;  none  for  me,"  I  replied. 

"  No  champagne  !  "  exclaimed  the  baronet. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  never  drink  anything  that  can 
intoxicate,"  I  replied. 

"  Champagne  don't  intoxicate,  any  more  than 
goat's  milk,"  added  Sir  Philip. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir  ;  but  I  never  drink  it,"  I  an- 
swered, embarrassed  at  the  situation,  for  I  knew 
something  of  the  requirements  of  English  hospital- 
ity, though  I  did  not  think  they  ought  to  compel 
me  to  make  a  fool  or  a  sot  of  myself. 

Breck  presented  the  salver  to  Larry. 

"  I  must  beg  to  be  excused,  also,"  he  replied, 
somewhat  to  my  surprise. 

"  No  champagne,  Lawrence  !  "  said  Sir  Philip, 
with  a  slight  frown. 

"  None,  sir  ;  I  follow  Phil's  lead  now.  At .  any 
rate,  I'm  going  to  try  on  his  temperance  principles 
for  a  while." 

"  Suit  yourselves,  young  gentlemen,"  added  the 
baronet,  impatiently. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       117 

Breck  passed  the  salver  to  him,  and  he  took  his 
glass.  The  servant  then  placed  the  table  at  the 
side  of  his  master,  on  which  he  put  the  tray,  with 
the  bottle  upon  it,  adjusting  the  cork,  so  as  to 
prevent  the  effervescence  as  much  as  possible  of 
its  contents. 

"  Mr.  Miles  is  in  the  drawing-room,  sir ;  and  the 
ladies  have  all  retired,"  said  Breck,  as  he  finished 
with  careful  precision  the  arrangements  which 
were  plainly  an  every-day  routine  with  him. 

"  Give  him  my  good  night,  and  bid  him.  retire, 
also,"  replied  the  baronet. 

Breck  was  evidently  dissatisfied  with  this  decis- 
ion, and  I  concluded  that  Miles  was  in  the  habit 
of  visiting  the  library  in  the  later  part  of  the  even- 
ing, and  probably  drank  champagne  with  his 
grandfather ;  but  the  man  was  too  well  trained 
to  say  anything  more,  and  retired  at  once. 

"  If  I  should  die  to-night,  you  would  be  Sir 
Lawrence  Grimsby  in  the  morning,"  said  the 
baronet  again,  as  he  drained  his  glass.  "  Now  I 
dare  say  you  are  willing  I  should  finish  this  bottle 
alone,  and  even  send  for  another,  for  with  your  tee- 
total principles,  you  believe  it  will  help  me  off." 

"  If  I  knew  I  should  attain  to  the  distinguished 


118         •  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,    OR 

position  you  suggest,  Sir  Philip,  I  should  still  ask 
m}?"  friend  Phil  to  pray  that  you  might  live  to  bo 
eighty,  at  least;  I  don't  pray  myself." 

"  I  don't  believe  it,  you  rascal !  When  you 
know  me  more,  you  will  love  me  less." 

"I  hope  not,  Sir  Philip;  but  of  course  I  can't 
tell,"  answered  Larry,  with  refreshing  candor. 

"  No,  you  don't  hope  not,"  added  the  baronet,  as 
he  filled  and  drank  off  another  glass  of  champagne. 

"  I'm  bound  to  say  I  shouldn't  love  a  man  if  he 
wasn't  a  good  fellow,  even  though  he  was  a  baro- 
net. A  man  might  be  a  baronet  and.  still  be  a 
rascal ;  but  I  don't  believe  you  are  anything  of 
the  sort." 

"  Upon  my  life,  I  believe  I  am  !  " 

"  Upon  my  soul,  I  believe  you  are  not." 

"  Don't  be  so  rude,  Larry,"  I  said  in  a  whisper. 

"  Let  him  speak  his  mind,  Mr.  Farringford  ;  I 
like  it,"  interposed  Sir  Philip ;  and  I  subsided 
at  once. 

"  I  can't  very  well  help  saying  just  what  I 
think,"  continued  Larry. 

"  Good  !  1  knew  another  young  fellow  who  was 
just  as  blunt  and  independent,"  replied  Sir  Philip, 
with  more  emotion  than  I  could  explain. 


THE    STRUGGLES    OF    A    SOLDIER.  119 

"  Who  was  he,  sir  ?  "  asked  Larry. 

"  Take  off  your  coat,  Lawrence,"  said  the  old 
gentleman,  sharply. 

My  friend  promptly  sprang  to  his  feet  at  this 
singular  command,  but  paused,  and  glanced  at  the 
baronet,  as  if  to  ascertain  whether  he  was  in 
earnest. 

"  Off  with  it,"  said  the  baronet,  making  a  gesture 
of  impatience. 

Larry  quickly  took  off  his  black  coat,  and  tossed 
it  into  his  chair. 

"  Roll  up  your  shirt-sleeve  on  the  left  arm,"  con- 
tinued Sir  Philip,  much  excited,  as  he  rose  from 
his  chair. 

Larry  complied. 

"  Turn  round  to  the  light.     There  it  is  !  " 

The  baronet  dropped  back  into  his  chair. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  Larry.  "  Do  you  mean  my 
raspberry  ? " 

"  The  red  mark  on  your  left  arm.  It  is  about 
the  size  and  color  of  a  red  raspberry,"  replied  the 
old  gentleman,  struggling  to  be  calm,  and  suc- 
ceeding tolerably  well.  "  Did  you  ever  see  it 
before,  Lawrence  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  I  have.  I  remember  that  mark  as 
long  as  I  can  remember  anything." 


120  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Let  me  see  it  again,"  added  Sir  Philip,  rising 
and  taking  a  musty  letter  from  the  writing-table. 
"  I  can't  see  ;  read,  Mr.  Farringford,  from  the  top 
of  the  third  page." 

"  '  The  vaccination  mark  is  one  inch  lower,  and 
half  an  inch  nearer  the  body,  than  the  reddish  spot, 
which  is  shaped  like  a  raspberry.     I  know  no  — '  " 

"  That's  enough.     Let  us  see  if  it  is  so." 

Both  of  us  compared  the  marks  with  the  de- 
scription. 

"  The  measurements  are  not  right ;  but  the  child 
has  become  a  man,  and  they  would  not  remain  the 
same,"  said  Sir  Philip. 

"  The  relative  positions  are  as  described  in  the 
letter,"  I  added. 

"  Precisely ;  there  is  no  doubt  of  it ;  but  the 
name  and  the  boy's  features  are  enough.  I  am 
satisfied.  Lawrence,  you  are  my  grandson,  beyond 
the  possibility  of  a  doubt.     Put  on  your  coat." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  be  anybody's  grandson, 
more  especially  yours,  Sir  Philip,"  answered  Larry, 
who  was  not  half  so  much  excited  by  the  remark- 
able events  of  the  evening  as  1  was.  "  I  have 
been  a  waif  all  my  life,  and  it  is  rather  jolly  to 
think  of  being  picked  up  by  a  grandfather ;  but 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  121 

I'm  afraid  there's  some  mistake.  Somebody  has 
been  getting  up  a  cheap  romance  at  my  expense. 
I  don't  want  to  be  a  hero.     I  hate  the  very  idea." 

"  Keep  quiet,  my  boy." 

"  Don't  attempt  to  hug  me,  or  anything  of  that 
sort.     If  you  do,  I  shall  scream  like  a  heroine." 

"Don't  disturb  yourself;  I  shall  not  hug  you 
yet;  but  a  mistake  is  utterly  impossible,"  added 
the  baronet,  and  he  quaffed  another  glass  of  wine. 
"  I  will  explain  it  all  now." 

But  at  that  moment  there  was  a  knock  at  the 
door,  and  Miles  Grimsby  entered  when  his  grand- 
father told  him  to  "  come  in." 


122  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  IX. 

IN  WHICH    PHIL    RELATES    THE     STORY    THE     BARONET 
TOLD,  AND  LARRY  MEETS  BLANCHE  IN  THE  GARDEN. 

"TELL,  Miles,  what  do  you  want  ?  Didn't  I 
send  word  to  you  that  you  might  re- 
tire ? "  said  the  baronet,  when  his  grandson 
entered  the  library. 

"  You  did,  sir ;  but  it  is  very  unusual  for  you  to 
send  me  to  bed  without  bidding  me  good  night; 
and  now  I  have  been  absent  half  a  year,"  replied 
Miles,  glancing  first  at  Larry  and  then  at  me,  as 
though  he  feared  some  conspiracy  against  him  was 
in  progress. 

"  You  are  quite  right,  Miles,  my  boy.  There  ; 
give  me  your  hand,  boy ;  good  night,  and  God 
bless  you  ! " 

"Good  night,  grandfather,"  replied  the  young 
man ;  but  he  did  not  seem  disposed  to  go. 

The  baronet  was  silent  then,  and  Miles,  finding 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  123 

that  his  presence  was  a  burden,  left  the  room  ;  but 
I  saw  the  flush  of  anger  on  his  cheek,  and  he 
slammed  the  door  behind  him  more  violently  than 
the  occasion  required.  . 

"  Poor  fellow  !  I'm  sorry  for  him,"  said  Sir 
Philip  ;  "  but  I  must  do  justice,  tardy  though  it 
be,  before  God  and  man.  I  think  the  boy  suspects 
something." 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  injure  Miles,  Sir  Philip," 
protested  Larry. 

"  I  dare  say  you  have  not,  Lawrence  ;  but  you 
have  put  the  boy's  nose  out  of  joint :  you  have, 
indeed,  and  his  father's,  too.  As  I  said  before,  if  I 
should  die  to-night,  you  would  be  Sir  Lawrence 
Grimsby  in  the  morning.  I  will  tell  you  all  about 
it  now,  and  to-morrow  I  shall  go  with  you  before  a 
magistrate,  and  acknowledge  you  as  my  grandson." 

I  will  give  Sir  Philip's  story  in  substance,  for 
he  elaborated  the  details  much  more  than  is  neces- 
sary for  my  present  purpose.  The  baronet  was 
now  sixty-six  years  old,  but  he  appeared  to  be 
entirely  hale  and  hearty,  though  I  fancied  that  he 
would  go  off  suddenly  before  many  years,  if  he 
drank  as  much  wine  every  night  as  on  the  present 
occasion.     He  had  been  the  father  of  three  sons, 


124  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

the  oldest  of  whom,  Philip,  was  of  course  the  heir 
to  the  baronet's  title  and  estates.  The  name  of 
the  second  son  was  Lawrence,  while  the  third  was 
Miles,  the  only  one  at  present  living.  Twenty 
years  before,  Lawrence  had  married  a  poor  girl, 
whose  only  dowry  was  her  beauty.  Sir  Philip 
was  violently  opposed  to  this  match  ;  for  the  girl 
was  not  only  penniless,  but  was  the  daughter  of  a 
poor  mechanic.  He  assured  his  son  he  would  dis- 
own and  cast  him  out  if  he  persisted  in  his  dis- 
obedience ;  but  Lawrence  was  an  independent 
young  man,  and  was,  withal,  so  deeply  smitten 
with  the  low-born  maiden  that  he  persisted  in  his 
purpose,  and  married  her.  The  baronet  was  true 
to  his  promise.  He  disowned  and  cast  off  the 
disobedient  son,  refusing  even  to  see  him,  or  to 
grant  him  a  penny  to  supply  his  wants. 

Lawrence  had  been  brought  up  to  no  occupa- 
tion, and  he  could  do  nothing  in  England,  though 
he  remained  there  until  after  the  birth  of  his  only 
child.  He  borrowed  money  enough  te  convey  his 
little  family  to  New  York.  He  was  determined  to 
struggle  manfully  with  his  hard  lot ;  but  he  had 
no  qualifications  for  business,  and  the  battle  went 
against  him.     He  obtained  a  small  situation  as  a 


THE  STEUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       125 

clerk,  but  was  unable  even  to  retain  this,  and 
actually  suffered  for  the  want  of  food.  For  the 
want  of  the  comforts  of  life  his  wife  died.  Then 
he  wrote  to  his  father ;  but  the  baronet  sternly- 
refused  to  heed  the  touching  appeal.  Lawrence 
struggled  only  for  a  brief  period  more  with  the 
rough  fortunes  of  life,  and  then  died  himself,  and 
was  buried  by  public  charity.  While  he  was  sick, 
and  only  waiting  for  death  to  put  an  end  to  his 
misery,  he  wrote  again  to  his  father,  appealing  to 
him  this  time  only  for  the  little  child,  which  had 
already  been  sent  to  the  Orphan  Asylum.  He 
described  the  boy,  so  that  his  father's  agent  might 
identify  him,  and  was  careful  that  he  should  bear 
his  own  name. 

This  letter  touched  the  heart  of  Sir  Philip,  and 
he  privately  sent  an  agent  to  look  up  the  father 
and  the  child.  The  former  was  dead  and  in  his 
grave,  and  the  agent  was  unable  to  find  the  latter. 
In  the  mean  time  another  grief  had  come  to  soften 
the  heart  of  the  baronet.  His  oldest  son  was 
killed  by  a  falL  from  his  horse  in  a  fox  hunt. 
Philip,  this  son,  had  died  unmarried,  though  he 
was  engaged  to  the  daughter  of  a  peer  at  the 
time  of  the  fatal  accident.     A  second  attempt  was 


126  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

made  to  find  the  son  of  Lawrence,  but  without  any 
better  success.  Miles,  the  third  son,  had  married 
a  daughter  of  Sir  Hale  Groveland,  Knight,  and 
was  the  father  of  several  children,  of  whom  Miles 
was  the  oldest,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father 
would  have  been  the  heir  of  the  title  and  estates, 
if  my  friend  Larry  had  not  stepped  between  him 
and  his  apparent  destiny.  Mr.  Fennimore  had 
married  another  daughter  of  Sir  Hale  Grove- 
land,  which' explained  the  connection  between  the 
families. 

"  Do  you  understand  it  now,  Lawrence  ?  "  asked 
the  baronet,  as  he  finished  his  recital. 

"  Perfectly,  sir ;  the  matter  is  double  leaded, 
with  a  pica  fist  before  it.  Your  first  son,  Philip, 
who  was  the  heir  of  the  title  and  its  appendages, 
is  dead.     My  father  came  next,"  replied  Larry. 

"  Yes,  my  boy ;  for  Philip  died  without  issue. 
Then,  as  your  father  is  dead,  you  come  next." 

"  Just  so  ;  and  Miles  is  left  out  in  the  cold." 

"  Of  course  I  shall  take  care  of  him  and  his 
father,  in  my  will  ;  but  the  bulk  of  my  property 
goes  to  you,  Lawrence." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  hope  you  will  not  have  occasion  to 
part  with  it  for  a  good  many  years.  But  I  desire 
to  make  an  even  thing  of  it." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A  SOLDIER.  127 

"  Impossible  !  "  exclaimed  the  baronet. 

"  As  for  the  title,  Miles  senior  and  his  son  may 
have  that.  I  wouldn't  turn  my  hand  for  it,"  added 
Larry,  with  easy  indifference. 

"  It  can't  be  done.  These  things  are  all  fixed 
by  the  laws  and  customs  of  JEngland,  and  must  not 
be  set  aside.  It  is  a  new  matter  to  you  now,  and 
you  will  change  your  mind  in  regard  to  the  title  in 
a  few  months,  or  weeks." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall." 

"  If  I  live  till  to-morrow,  I  shall  arrange  every- 
thing. In  the  mean  time,  not  a  word  must  be  said 
about  this  business.  I  don't  wish  to  stir  up  my. 
son  and  grandson  yet ;  and  I  want  time  to  look  the 
matter  over.     Now  you  may  retire,  my  boys." 

"  I  was  going  to  London,  to-morrow,  with  Phil," 
said  Larry. 

"  Go  with  him,  if  you  like.  I  would  rather  have 
you  out  of  the  way  for  a  few  weeks." 

"  Eight,  Sir  Philip.  I  would  like  to  take  a  run 
on  the  continent,  and  see  a  little  of  the  world 
there,  but  I  don't  happen  to  have  the  needful." 

"  Do  you  mean  money  ?  " 

"  That's  exactly  what  I  mean  ;  and  that  has  been 
the  one  thing  needful  to  me  all  my  life." 


128  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  You  shall  not  want  for  money,  if  fifty  thousand 
pounds  will  supply  your  needs." 

"  I  don't  want  fifty  thousand  pounds  ;  only  — let 
me  see  —  eleven  or  twelve  thousand,  at  present," 
replied  Larry,  lightly. 

"  You  shall  have  it  to-morrow  morning,  if  you 
desire." 

"  I  do  desire  it  very  much  indeed.  Ten  thou- 
sand pounds  would  do  me  more  good  than  any- 
thing else  in  the  world.  I  would  rather  have  it 
than  be  an  earl  or  a  duke." 

"  You  shall  have  it ;  though  it  is  rather  a  large 
sum  for  a  boy;  but  I  am  willing  to  make  up  for 
the  past  with  you.  Now,  go  to  your  rooms.  I 
am  tired." 

We  went  to  our  chambers.  I  was  amazed  at  the 
coolness  and  self-possession  of  my  friend.  I  was 
excited  myself,  but  he  was  not. 

"  You  are  the  strangest  mortal  I  ever  saw, 
Larry  !  "  I  exclaimed,  as  we  dismissed  the  valet, 
and  I  closed  the  door  behind  him. 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  he,  with  a  light  laugh. 
"  Ton  my  word,  you  speak  only  the  truth,  as  you 
always  do,  Phil." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  be  the  least  moved  or 
excited  at  your  remarkably  good  fortune." 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF  A  SOLDIER.  129 

"  The  fact  is,  Phil,  I  have  always  had  a  feeling 
that  I  was  born  for  something  of  this  kind,  and  I 
am  not  much  surprised  at  what  has  occurred." 

"  I  am.  Yesterday  you  were  a  vagabond  ;  to- 
day, the  heir  of  one  of  the  richest  houses  in 
England." 

"  I  shall  be  able  to  pay  you  the  little  sum  I  bor- 
rowed of  you  now,  Phil." 

"  Never  mind  that.  I  think  you  are  a  modest 
young  man,  Larry,  most  asfoundingly  so.  What  in 
the  world  did  you  mean  by  asking  Sir  Philip  for 
eleven  or  twelve  thousand  pounds." 

"  I  have  a  pressing  need  for  that  little  sum." 

"  Are  you  mad  ?  Do  you  know  how  much  you 
asked  for  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  do  —  eleven  or  twelve  thousand 
pounds." 

"  Between  fifty  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  !  " 

"  Just  so ;  I  had  arithmetic  enough  to  figure 
that  out." 

"  But  you  cannot  mean  it." 

"  Ton  my  word  I  do  —  every  penny  of  it." 

"  No,  you  don't ;  you  can't  use  it.    Two  or  three 
thousand  dollars  is  all  you  need  to  spend  on  the 
continent,  even  if  you  travel  like  a  prince." 
9 


130  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  don't  want  it  for  that.  I  want  ten  thousand 
of  it  for  quite  another  purpose.  Draw  near  to 
me,  Phil ;  open  your  ears,  and  listen  to  me.  '  He 
that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear.'  I  set  that 
up  once,  as  the  text  of  a  sermon,  which  explains 
how  I  happen  to  remember  it.  Do  you  know  Miss 
Blanche  Fennimore  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  do." 

"  So  do  I.  Possibly  you  may  know  that  her 
father  got  into  some  sort  of  difficulty  with  the  bank 
at  Lowerville,"  continued  Larry,  very  seriously. 

"  Certainly  I  do ;  you  are  aware  that  I  am 
in  possession  of  all  the  facts,'7  I  answered,  im- 
patiently. 

"  Probably  Blanche  has  no  suspicion  that  her 
father  was  anything  but  an  honest,  upright 
man." 

"  We  are  certain  that  she  knows  nothing  about 
the  crime  of  her  father." 

"  According  to  your  Christian  logic,  Phil,  the 
first  thing  a  man  should  do  to  atone  for  his  crime 
is  to  make  all  the  reparation  in  his  power." 

"  To  be  sure  ;  and  Mr.  Fennimore  did  all  that 
was  in  his  power." 

"  Well,  I  propose  to  do  what  it  was  not  in  his 


THF  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  131 

power  to  do ;  in  other  words,  to  make  good  the 
rest  of  his  defalcation.     How  is  that  for  high  ?  " 

"  Why  should  you  do  such  a  thing?  "  I  asked, 
amazed  at  this  proposition. 

"  Not  for  my  own  sake,  I  grant,  but  for 
Blanche's.  If  she  should  ever  learn  that  her 
father's  fingers  were  greasy  in  the  money-bags, 
don't  you  think  she  would  feel  better  about  it 
if  she  knew  that  every  red  had  been  restored  to 
the  bank?" 

"  Certainly  she  would  ;  but  I  do  not  see  that 
you  are  called  upon  to  do  such  a  romantic  deed," 
I"  replied. 

"  Romantic  —  is  it  ?  "  laughed  Larry.  "  Well, 
perhaps  it  is.  Who  knows?  I'm  not  much  on 
romance ;  but  if  the  baronet  ponies  up  the  rocks,  I 
shall  pay  every  red  that  Blanche's  father  stole  or 
owed.     Phil,  I  love  that  girl." 

"You  are  smitten,  I  know;  but  don't  hurry 
about  the  matter." 

"  Hurry?  I'm  up  to  my  ears  now.  You  might 
as  well  attempt  to  check  Niagara  as  a  thing  of  this 
kind.     I've  got  it  bad,  Phil." 

"  I'm  sorry  for  you,  Larry." 

"  You  needn't  be.     I'm  no  longer  a  vagabond, 


132  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

and  the  case  looks  hopeful  to  me  now,  though  it 
never  did  before." 

"  You  are  getting  tame  and  commonplace  now, 
and  I  think  we  had'  better  turn  in." 

It  seemed  incredible  to  me,  but  Larry  was 
snoring  in  ten  minutes  more  ;  yet  I  must  do  him 
the  justice  to  say  that  he  snored  only  when  he 
was  very  tired.  He  had  slept  very  little  during 
the  voyage,  and  neither  the  thought  of  Blanche, 
nor  of  the  good  fortune  that  had  so  suddenly  over- 
taken him,  could  keep  him  awake.  I  agreed  with 
him  in  considering  his  case  a  very  hopeful  one ; 
for  the  heart  of  the  fair  girl  was  filled  with  grati- 
tude to'him  for  his  care  of  her  father.  Of  course 
she  had  not  thought  of  love  ;  but  she  was  kindly 
disposed  towards  him. 

We  did  not  get  up  very  early  the  next  morning. 
Attached  to  the  Hall  was  a  beautiful  garden,  in 
which  Larry  and  I  walked  before  breakfast.  On  a 
rustic  bridge  across  the  brook  that  wandered 
through  the  garden  we  met  Blanche.  She  was 
very  sad  ;  but  she  smiled  when  she  saw  us,  and 
extended  her  hand  to  both. 

"  I  suppose  we  must  leave  you  to-day,  Miss  Fen- 
nimore,"  said  Larry,  as  we  walked  along  together. 


'~  ~    ""  1  ~j>ji ^Hifrwpirji ~-  '_~'7IIirM!TJ'(li inIM¥T   .vTiTninill'' 

■lite—-7  ^    *    fsii^m  u« 


mfjF^p^m^'    ': 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  133 

"  So  soon  ?  " 

"  We  have  already  staid  longer  than  we  in- 
tended," I  added.  "  Perhaps  we  may  never  see 
you  again." 

"  Do  not  say  that ;  I  am  sure  I  should  be  very 
unhappy  if  I  believed  I  were  never  again  to  see 
such  good  friends  as  you  have  been  to  me  —  and 
my  father,"  she  answered,  with  much  emotion. 
"  Do  come  to  Grimsby  Hall  when  you  return  from 
the  continent ;  for  I  am  to  stay  with  my  aunt  this 
summer,  and  perhaps  longer." 

"  I  shall  certainly  come  again,  whether  Mr.  Far- 
ringford  does  or  not,"  said  Larry. 

"  I  shall  be  so  glad  to  see  you  !  But  I  hope  you 
will  both  come.  I  shall  be  so  lonely,  now  that  he 
is  gone  ! "  she  replied,  her  voice  choking  as  she 
thought  of  her  father.  "  I  shall  never  think  of 
him  without  thinking  of  you." 

"  If  I  never  see  you  again,  I  never  shall  for- 
get you,"  continued  Larry ;  and  after  this  re- 
mark, I  thought  I  had  better  drop  a  reason- 
able distance  behind  them,  though  I  knew  that 
my  friend  had  too  much  good  sense  to  make 
a  "  declaration  "  at  such  a  time,  and  under  such 
circumstances. 


134  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,    OR 

My  plan  was  assisted  by  Miles,  who  presently 
joined  me  from  a  by-path.  I  saw  that  he  was 
troubled,  but  I  hoped  he  would  not  speak  to  me 
about  our  conference  with  Sir  Philip. 

"  I  hear  you  are  off  to-rlay,  Phil,"  said  he. 

"  Yes,  we  go  to  London  by  the  noon  train." 

"  And  where  then  are  you  going  ?  " 

"  I  go  to  Nice,  by  the  way  of  Paris  and  Mar- 
seilles." 

"  But  there  is  going  to  be  a  bloody  big  row  in 
Italy  this  summer." 

"  For  that  reason  I  am  in  haste  to  find  my 
mother  before  the  war  breaks  up  the  travel." 

"  Perhaps  you  won't  mind  telling  me  what  you 
were  talking  about  with  Sir  Philip  last  night," 
said  he,  after  a  short  pause. 

"  I  would  rather  Sir  Philip  should  tell  you  him- 
self, if  he  thinks  proper,"  I  replied. 

"  You  won't  tell  me,  then  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  do  so  without  your 
grandfather's  permission." 

"  You  needn't  trouble  yourself.     I  know  now." 

"  Indeed  ?  " 

"  I  do,  indeed." 

"  The  matter  does  not  concern  me,  and  I  have 
nothing  to  say  or  do  about  it." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  135 

"  By  the  noon  train,"  said  he.  "  I  am  going  up 
to  London  at  the  same  time." 

"  We  should  be  happy  to  have  your  company." 

"  Thanks  ;  "  and  without  another  word  he  turned 
into  a  side-path,  and  disappeared. 

His  conduct  appeared  very  singular  to  me. 


136  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  X. 

IN    WHICH     PHIL    AND     LARRY    GO     TO     LONDON,    AND 
MILES   GRIMSBY   IS   VERY   MUCH   EXCITED. 

ri^HE  actions  of  Miles  Grimsby  were  not  easy 
JL  to  explain.  He  told  me  bluntly  that  he  knew 
the  subject  of  the  conversation  with  the  baronet 
in  the  library  ;  but  I  did  not  see  how  this  was 
possible,  even  if  he  had  so  far  lost  his  self-respect 
as  to  become  an  eavesdropper ;  for  the  fireplace, 
near  which  we  sat,  was  too  far  from  the  door  to 
permit  a  listener  to  hear  what  was  said.  Of 
course  he  knew  the  story  of  his  uncle  Lawrence, 
and  1  concluded  that  he  simply  suspected  the 
relation  of  my  friend  to  him.  I  did  not  see  Larry 
again  till  we  met  at  the  breakfast  table.  What- 
ever the  nature  of  the  interview  between  him  and 
Miss  Fennimore,  there  was  nothing  in  her  look 
to  indicate  that  anything  unusual  had  occurred, 
though  I  did  think  my  friend  was  more  cheerful. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       137 

After  the  meal,  we  went  with  the  baronet  to  a 
magistrate,  a  gentleman  of  distinction,  and,  1  at 
once  inferred,  an  intimate  friend  of  Sir  Philip. 

"  Here  he  is,  Sir  John,"  said  the  baronet,  in- 
dicating Larry  with  a  nod  of  his  head. 

"  Impossible  !  "  exclaimed  the  magistrate,  with  a 
promptness  which  showed  that  this  was  not  the 
first  time  the  subject  had  been  mentioned.  "  You 
are  deceived." 

"  No,  I  am  not.  I  purpose  to  prove  all  1  say, 
inch  by  inch,  to  your  satisfaction,  Sir  John ;  and 
mulish  as  you  are,  you  will  be  satisfied  before  I 
am  done.  I  have  no  time  to  spare,  and  we  will 
begin  at  once." 

Sir  Philip  placed  the  letters  of  his  deceased  son 
in  the  hands  of  the  magistrate. 

"  You  have  read  them  before,"  he  continued. 
"  Off  with  your  coat,  Lawrence." 

Larry  prepared  himself  for  this  examination. 
While  he  was  doing  so,  Sir  Philip  produced  a 
miniature  of  his  deceased  son  Lawrence.  It  was 
painted  on  ivory ;  and  looking  at  the  face  alone,  I 
should  have  supposed  it  to  be  the  portrait  of 
Larry.  Sir  John  acknowledged  that  the  picture 
was  a  perfect  likeness.     The  blood  mark  on  the 


138  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

arm  corresponded  with  the  description  in  the 
letter,  and  after  Larry  had  related  all  that  he 
knew,  or  had  heard,  of  his  early  life,  the  magis- 
trate declared  that  he  was  satisfied.  He  wrote  a 
document,  which  covered  a  page  of  foolscap,  to 
the  effect  that  Sir  Philip  acknowledged  Larry  to 
be  the  son  of  his  deceased  son  Lawrence,  which 
we  all  signed,  and  the  business  was  finished. 
From  the  magistrate's  we  went  to  the  banker's, 
where  the  baronet  drew  twelve  thousand  pounds, 
in  Bank  of  England  notes. 

"  Here,  my  boy,"  said  Sir  Philip,  as  he  handed 
him  the  entire  amount. 

11  But,  Sir  Philip,  I  intended  to  tell  you  what  I 
wished  to  do  with  this  money,"  replied  Larry,  as 
he  coolly  took  the  roll  of  bills.  "  Perhaps  you 
will  not  approve  the  purpose  to  which  I  shall 
apply  it." 

"  Don't  tell  me  anything  about  it.  I  am  too 
nervous  to  hear.  I  regard  this  money  as  a  small 
drop  of  atonement  for  the  past.  Say  uothing  more 
about  it." 

"  I  shall  send  most  of  it  to  America." 

"  Send  it  to  China,  if  you  like.  Have  you  seen 
Miles  to-day?" 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.     .   139 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  saw  him,  but  did  not  speak  with 
.him." 

"  I  met  him  in  the  garden,"  I  interposed,  and 
related  what  had  passed  between  him  and  myself. 

"  The  boy  understands  it  all,"  said  the  baronet, 
uneasily.  "  He  is  a  strange  fellow ;  but  I  don't 
know  that  there  is  anything  bad  about  .  him. 
Did  he  say  he  was  going  to  London  by  the  noon 
train?  " 

"  He  did,  sir." 

"  He  always  has  his  own  way.  He  has  been  a 
pet  at  Grimsby  Hall.  Let  him  go  to  London,  if  he 
pleases.  Very  likely  he  wishes  to  consult  some 
lawyer  there.  It  would  not  be  strange  if  I  out- 
lived the  boy's  father,  who  is  feeble  in  body  and 
mind." 

I  had  already  concluded  that  all  was  not  right 
with  the  elder  Miles.  He  seldom  spoke  to  any 
one,  and  had  a  vacant  expression.  Though  his 
wife  had  been  absent  six  months,  I  observed 
that  he  had  little  or  nothing  to  say  to  her.  On 
the  whole,  it  seemed  to  me  like  a  very  strange 
family. 

We  saw  Blanche  again,  and  I  was  satisfied  that 
an  excellent  understanding  subsisted  between  her 


140  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

and  Larry.  Each  promised  to  write  the  other. 
My  friend  had  also  agreed  to  write  to  his  grand- 
father every  week.  A  carriage  conveyed  us  to 
the  station,  and  we  were  attended  by  the  baronet 
and  Blanche  ;  but  Miles  went  in  the  dog  cart  by 
himself. 

"  Now,  good  by,  my  boy,"  said  Sir  Philip. 
"  Take  good  care  of  yourself;  for  I  depend  more 
on  you  than  on  any  one  else.  When  I  write  to  you 
to  come  home,  come  without  an  hour's  delay." 

"  I  will  obey  you  in  all  things,  sir,"  replied 
Larry.  - 

"  Are  you  going  to  London,  Miles  ?  "  asked  the 
baronet,  as  the  young  man  stepped  up  to  him. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  want  to  see  some  American  friends 
there.     I  may  go  over  the  continent  with  them." 

"  Have  you  money  enough  ?  " 

"  Plenty,  sir." 

"  God  bless  you,  my  boy.  Take  care  of  your- 
self," added  the  baronet,  but  with  less  feeling,  I 
thought,  than  he  had  spoken  to  Larry. 

Though  the  intercourse  between  Miles  and  his 
grandfather  was  attended  with  all  the  forms  of 
love  and  tenderness,  I  began  to  see  that  it  was 
rather  formal.     We   stepped  into  an  empty  com- 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  141 

partment,  as  the  train  stopped,  and  were  soon  on 
our  way  to  London.  Miles  placed  himself  at  the 
farther  end  of  the  compartment,  and  did  not  speak 
for  an  hour.  His  presence  prevented  Larry  and 
myself  from  talking  of  what  was  uppermost  in  our 
minds  ;  but  for  my  own  part,  I  was  content  to  gaze 
on  the  bright  green  fields  of  England,  and  see 
what  I  could  of  the  beautiful  country.  Miles  was 
very  nervous  and  uneasy,  fidgeting  from  one  seat 
to  another,  trying  to  look  out  at  the  open  window, 
but  occasionally  casting  furtive  glances  at  Larry 
and  me.  When  he  had  kept  this  up  until  the 
train  was  half  way  to  London,  he  came  to  our  end 
of  the  compartment,  and  seated  himself  at  my  side, 
facing  my  friend.  It  was  evident  that  he  intended 
to  say  something,  but  he  only  looked  at  Larry  for 
several  minutes. 

u  It  seems  that  you  don't  look  like  me  for 
nothing,"  said  he,  at  last. 

"  Well,  Miles,  I  don't  think  I  look  any  more  like 
you  than  you  do  like  me,"  replied  Larry,  smiling. 
"  I  don't  know  whether  you  mean  to  say  that 
John  Jones  looks  like  the  king,  or  the  king  like 
John  Jones." 

"  Either  way  you  please.  I  only  meant  to  say 
that  there  is  a  strong  resemblance  between  us." 


142  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

4 

"  Eight ;  I  grant  that." 

"  It  is  not  accidental,"  added  Miles,  nervously. 

"  I'm  no  philosopher.'' 

"  What  were  you  and  my  grandfather  talking 
about  last  night?" 

"For  further  particulars,  apply* to  Sir  Philip 
Grimsby,  Bart,,  Grimsby  Hall,"  laughed  Larry. 

"  Well,  I  know." 

"  If  you  do,  it  is  folly  to  ask." 

"  You  are  the  son  of  my  uncle  Lawrence,  who 
died  in  America." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  demanded  Larry. 

"  You  know  that  it  is." 

"  Cousin,  your  hand,  if  that  is  so ;  and  thank  you 
for  the  information,"  replied  Larry,  extending  his 
hand  to  the  discomfited  young  man.  "  If  what 
you  say  is  true,  we  are  cousins." 

"  We  are,"  answered  Miles,  taking  the  offered 
hand.     "  But  I'm  not  glad  to  see  you." 

"  That's  candid  and  honest ;  but  are  you  quite 
sure  that  what  you  say  is  true  ?  " 

"  Why  did  my  grandfather  send  for  you  last 
night?  Why  did  you  stay  with  him  till  morning? 
Where  did  you  go  with  him  this  forenoon  ?  " 

"  Ask  Sir  Philip." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       143 

"  I  have  no  occasion  to  ask  him." 

"  Have  you  taken  the  dimensions  of  the  key- 
hole of  Sir  Philip's  library  door  ?  " 

"  No  !     Don't  insult  me  !  " 

"  I  will  not ;  pardon  me." 

"Since  you  have  uttered  a  suspicion,  I  will  say 
that  I  did  not  hear  a  word  that  was  said  in  the 
library,  or  anywhere  else,  on  this  subject,  between 
you  and  my  grandfather ;  but  I  understand  it 
all.  My  mother  gave  me  all  the  information  I 
needed." 

"  Miles,  I  haven't  a  word  to  say  about  it,"  added 
Larry,  more  earnestly  than  he  had  yet  spoken. 

"  I  took  you  for  a  good  fellow  on  board  of  the 
steamer,  and  I  expected  something  like  mag- 
nanimity from  you,"  muttered  Miles. 

"  Magnanimity  is  a  long  word,  and  I  am  not  in  a 
condition  to  be  magnanimous  towards  you.  If  the 
time  ever  comes  when  I  can  exercise  this  noble 
sentiment  in  regard  to  you,  I  trust  I  shall  not  be 
found  wanting." 

"  That  won't  do,"  growled  Miles. 

"  But  it  must  do,"  answered  Larry,  with  energy. 

"  Don't  make  me  your  enemy,  Lawrence." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  do  that ;  but  if  you   insist 


144  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

upon  being  my  enemy,  I  suppose  I  must  submit, 
for  I  can't  help  myself." 

"  I  give  you  fair  and  timely  warning,"  added 
Miles,  shaking  his  head. 

"  I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  fair  and 
timely  warning,"  said  Larry,  with  the  most  pro- 
voking indifference. 

"  What  do  you  desire  of  Larry  ?  "  I  asked,  fear- 
ful that  a  quarrel  was  brewing,  and  desirous  of 
avoiding  any  unpleasantness. 

"  I  desire  him  to  be  candid  and  honest  with  me, 
which  he  will  not.  He  pretends  to  know  nothing 
about  the  matter  of  which  I  speak.  He  will 
neither  deny  nor  acknowledge  the  truth  of  what  I 
say,"  replied  Miles,  turning  to  me,  much  excited. 

"  I  have  been  present  at  all  the  interviews  of 
my  friend  with  Sir  Philip,  and  what  passed 
between  them  was  entirely  confidential.  The 
baronet  imposed  silence  upon  Larry  and  upon 
me,  and  without  acknowledging  or  denying  the 
truth  of  what  you  say,  Miles,  neither  he  nor  I 
have  any  right  to  repeat  a  word  that  passed  at 
these  conferences.  Larry  is  entirely  honorable 
about  the  matter,  and  no  gentleman  should  at- 
tempt to  worm  out  of  another  what  the  latter 
distinctly  declares  is  confidential." 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  145 

"Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  I  am  no  gentle- 
man ? "  demanded  Miles,  whose  tone  and  manner 
indicated  that  I  had  not  bettered  the  matter. 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind  ;  but  I  trust  you  will  see 
that  it  is  not  proper  to  press  this  subject  any 
farther,-"  I  promptly  replied. 

"  But  the  subject  concerns  me  more  nearly  than 
any  other  person,  and.  is  of  vastly  more  con- 
sequence to  me  than  to  my  father,  or  even  my 
grandfather.  If  Larry  comes  to  England  and  to 
Grimsby  Hall  as  the  son  of  my  uncle  Lawrence,  ho 
robs  me  of  my  inheritance,  and  makes  a  beggar  of 
me.  Do  you  expect  me  to  keep  quiet  under  such 
circumstances?"  continued  Miles,  warming  up  at 
what  he  evidently  regarded  as  his  wrongs. 

"  The  statement  you  make  is  neither  admitted 
nor  denied,  and  we  can  say  nothing  about  the 
matter." 

"  That  will  do,  Phil.  Don't  open  your  mouth  on 
the  subject  again." 

"  Your  friend  is  an  adventurer,"  added  Miles, 
still  addressing  me.  "  I  was  till  yesterday  the 
prospective  heir  of  the  title  and  estates  of  my 
grandfather.  Now  he  steps  in  between  me  and  all 
my  earthly  hopes." 
10 


146  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  This  is  a  fine  country,  Phil,"  said  Larry. 

"  And  he  refuses  me  even  a  word  of  explana- 
tion," persisted  Miles. 

"  Beautiful  country,"  I  added. 

"  Sir  Philip  is  one  of  the  ten  richest  men  in  Eng- 
land, and  his  estates  and  income  would  all  have 
been  mine,  if  your  friend  had  not  come  here  to 
blast  my  hopes." 

"  That's  a  pretty  stream  of  water ;  I  suppose 
they  call  it  a  river  over  here,"  said  Larry. 

"  Very  likely ;  there  isn't  room  enough  here  for 
such  rivers  as  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  or  even 
the  Hudson." 

"  You  do  not  hear  what  I  say,"  interposed  Miles. 

"  Every  word  of  it ;  but  we  respectfully  decline 
to  continue  the  conversation  on  the  subject  you 
have  chosen,  for  the  reason  we  have  distinctly 
stated,"  I  replied,  gently,  but  firmly. 

"  I  see  that  you  intend  to  add  insult  to  injury," 
muttered  Miles. 

"  Far  from  it." 

"  I  give  you  fair  warning,  Lawrence  Grimsby,  if 
that  be  your  name,  which  I  doubt." 

"  Receipt  of  warning  duly  acknowledged,  Miles 
Grimsby,   if   that   is   your   name,   which   I    don't 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  147 

doubt;  and  I  will  give  it  to  you  in  writing  if  you 
desire,"  replied  Larry. 

"  You  have  made  me  your  enemy." 

"  Sorry  for  it,  but  must  submit." 

Miles  suddenly  darted  to  the  corner  of  the  com- 
partment which  he  had  before  occupied,  and,  very 
much  agitated,  drummed  on  the  floor  with  his  feet, 
and  pounded  the  cushions  with  his  hands.  1  was 
sorry  for  him,  though,  if  my  friend  was  really 
the  son  of  Lawrence  Grimsby,  deceased,  Miles  had 
no  right  to  complain.  Certainly  Larry  had  done 
nothing  himself  to  provoke  the  disappointed  young 
man  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  had  been  very  forbearing 
under  his  charges.  During  the  rest  of  the  journey 
Miles  twice  attempted  to  resume  the  subject ;  but 
we  declined  even  to  speak  of  it  again.  When  tlie 
train  stopped  at  Euston  Square  station,  in  London, 
he  darted  out  of  the  carriage  with  his  portmanteau 
in  his  hand,  and  disappeared  in  the  crowd.  Larry 
and  I  took  a  cab,  and  drove  to  Morley's,  in  Trafal- 
gar Square.     We  took  a  room  together. 

"  Phil,  this  money  is  heavy  in  my  pocket,  and  it 
must  be  started  off  at  once,"  said  Larry. 

"  Are  you  determined  to  do  this  romantic  act, 
Larry  ?  "  I  asked. 


148  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Undoubtedly  I  am.  I  haven't  wavered  or 
hesitated  the  millionth  part  of  a  second  in  my 
purpose.  You  have  the  address  of  the  president 
of  that  bank  in  Lowerville.  Now  write  a  letter  to 
him  ;  tell  him  to  put  this  money  into  his  bank,  and 
never  open  his  head  to  a  single  soul  on  earth, 
except  *to  say  that  Mr.  Fennimore's  estate  don't 
owe  the  concern  a  red  cent.  I  shall  not  feel  easy 
till  the  money  is  on  its  way." 

I  wrote  the  letter  as  Larry  dictated,  and  then 
we  went  to  my  bankers'.  A  bill  on  New  York,  in 
favor  of  the  president  of  the  bank,  was  purchased, 
the  duplicates  to  be  forwarded  by  the  bankers 
which  I  enclosed  in  the  letter  I  had  written.  I 
requested  the  gentleman  to  address  his  reply  to 
"  Lawrence  Grimsby,  Esq.,"  care  of  my  bankers. 
My  friend  then  invested  the  greater  part  of  his 
remaining  funds  in  a  letter  of  credit,  good  any- 
where in  Europe. 

"  Now  I  feel  more  like  a  Christian  than  I  ever 
did  before  in  the  whole  course  of  my  life,"  said 
Larry,  as  we  left  the  bankers'.  "  I  even  feel  like 
forgiving  grandfather  Sir  Philip  for  making  me  a 
rich  man." 

"  I  dare  say  you  do.  But  how  in  regard  to 
Miles?" 


THE    STRUGGLES    OF    A    SOLDIER.  149 

"  I  don't  feel  a  bit  hard  towards  him.  I'm  sorry 
for  him:  if  I  were  he,  perhaps  I  should  be  ps 
much  disgruntled  as  he  is  ;  but  I  doubt  it.  Now, 
Phil,  let  me  pay  you  what  I  owe  you ;  for  really 
that's  one  of  the  greatest  pleasures  in  the  known 
world." 

Larry  paid  me  the  money  I  had  advanced  in 
cash  and  for  clothing ;  but  I  positively  refused  to 
take  the  sum  I  had  given  after  the  accident,  and 
we  compromised  it  by  his  purchashing  a  gold 
watch  at  Bennett's,  on  the  case  of  which  he  had 
my  name  engraved  as  the  giver. 


150  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  XL 

IN  WHICH  PHIL  AND  LARRY  MAKE  THE  ACQUAINTANCE 
OF  A  MAN  WITH  A  PREPOSTEROUS  HAT,  AND  START 
FOR    ITALY. 

I  COULD  not  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  I  was  in 
London,  the  metropolis  of  the  world,  though  I 
had  not  time  to  see  its  sights.  I  was  deeply  in- 
terested, in  its  crowded  streets  and  its  massive 
public  buildings.  From  the  bankers'  wTe  went 
down  to  London  Bridge,  then  to  the  Bank,  the 
Tower  of  London,  and  other  sights  in  that  part  of 
the  city.  The  next  day  we  went  to  Westminster 
Abbey  and  Palace,  through  the  Parks,  and  into  the 
British  Museum.  This  was  all  we  were  able  to 
see  of  London  on  this  visit.  I  had  stopped  longer 
than  I  intended  already,  and  I  was  in  haste  to  reach 
Paris,  where  I  expected  to  find  a  letter  from  Mar- 
ian Collingsby,  my  cousin,  who  had  promised  to 
give  me  the  latest  intelligence  in  regard  to  my 
mother. 


THE    STRUGGLES    OF    A    SOLDIER.  151 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  after  our  arri- 
val, we  left  for  Paris,  and  arrived  in  the  evening 
of  the  same  day.  I  hastened  to  the  bankers,  and 
found  three  letters,  one  from  Marian,  one  from 
Ella  Gracewood,  and  one  from  my  father.  My 
cousin  informed  me  that  my  mother  had  gone  to 
Milan,  to  spend  several  weeks  with  some  Italian 
friends,  whose  address  she  was  unable  to  give  me. 
My  father  assured  me  that  he  was  still  well  and 
happy,  and  Ella's  letter  gave  me  a  fluttering  of 
the  heart,  though  it  contained  nothing  which  need 
be  transcribed  to  these  pages.  It  was  a  very 
pleasant  letter,  and  one  of  that  kind  which  a  young 
man  reads  all  the  way  from  twenty  to  a  hundred 
times. 

Larry  and  I  walked  about  the  city  for  two  hours, 
till  we  had  a  tolerable  idea  of  the  central  portion, 
and  then  returned  to  the  Hotel  Meurice,  where 
we  had  taken  a  double  room.  The  city  was  in 
a  blaze  of  excitement  over  the  Italian  war.  The 
emperor  and  the  army  had  gone  to  take  part  in 
the  conflict  which  was  to  end  in  the  expulsion 
of  the  Austrians  from  Lombardy.  The  enthusiasm 
was  tremendous,  and  Larry  and  myself  were  in- 
fected with  it ;  for  it  seemed  to  us  like  a  war  for 


152  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

liberty.  Then  France  appeared  to  represent  the 
highest  ideal  of  justice,  and  to  bear  a  chivalrous  part 
in  redeeming  the  oppressed  from  the  oppressor. 
Garibaldi's  name  was  on  every  lip,  and  the  fa- 
mous hymn  that  bears  his  name  was  played  by 
every  band,  and  whistled  and  sung  by  all  the 
people. 

"  There  will  be  a  lively  time  in  Italy  when  we 
get  there,  Phil,"  said  Larry. 

"  I  think  so ;  and  I  am  afraid  the  war  will  spoil 
all  my  calculations,"  I  replied,  as  we  entered  the 
garden  of  the  Tuileries,  where  a  band  of  music 
had  attracted  a  great  crowd. 

"  This  music  stirs  me  clear  down  to  my  boots. 
I  believe,  if  I  knew  French  well  enough,  I  should 
enter  the  army  as  a  volunteer." 

"  You  don't  mean  it." 

"  Yes,  I  do.  I  never  cared  much  about  playing 
soldier ;  but  when  it  comes  to  the  real  matter,  I 
believe  in  it." 

"  But  you  have  no  wish  to  take  part  in  these 
European  quarrels." 

"  Why  not  ?  I  believe  in  liberty.  Austria  and 
tyranny  mean  the  same  thing." 

"  Your  circumstances  have  changed." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  153 

"  They  have  ;  but  I  have  not  changed.  I  am  the 
same  old  sixpence.     I  wish  I  could  talk  French." 

"  You  say  you  can  read  it  a  little." 

"  I  can ;  but  I  can't  tell  what  one  of  these  French- 
men says  when  he  speaks  any  more  than  if  lie 
spoke  the  Hottentot  lingo.  You  seem  to  be  quite 
at  home  at  it,  Phil." 

"  I  began  to  study  French  when  I  was  ten  years- 
old,  and  have  kept  i't  up  ever  since.  Miss  Grace- 
wood  and  I  used  to  practise  every  day.  I  find  I 
can  get  along  very  well." 

"  First  rate.  By  the  way,  Phil,  do  you  see  that 
long-haired  fellow  on  your  right,  smoking  a  cigar  ?  " 
said  Larry,  nodding  towards  the  individual. 

"  Yes ;  and  I  have  seen  him  half  a  dozen  times 
before  to-day,  in  the  steamer  and  on  the  train  from 
London." 

The  man  to  whom  Larry  alluded  had  long,  black 
hair,  and  a  long,  black  mustache.  He  wore  a 
rather  threadbare  suit  of  black,  with  a  black  hat 
which  had  possibly  been  in  fashion  some  time  dur- 
ing the  last  ten  years  ;  for  it  was  preposterously 
high  in  the  crown  and  narrow  in  the  brim.  I  had 
heard  and  read  a  great  deal  about  the  spy  sys- 
tem of  Paris,  and  I  could, not  help  connecting  this 


154  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

man  with  the  French  "  shadows,"  who  worm  them- 
selves into  the  confidence  of  all  sorts  of  people,  and 
worm  out  of  them  all  sorts  of  secrets.  He  looked 
like  a  tricky  and  cunning  man ;  but  as  he  had  come 
from  London  with  us,  a  second  thought  assured  me 
that  my  suspicion  was  absurd.  While  I  was  think- 
ing of  the  matter  I  saw  four  policemen  approaching 
us.  I  had  seen  some  of  these  sergents  de  villenear 
the  station,  and  many  of  them  in  the  streets  and 
boulevards.  I  could  not  help  admiring  their  dress 
and  bearing.  They  wore  gray  linen  pants,  and 
dark-blue  dress  coats,  having  rather  long  and  broad 
skirts,  buttoned  up  to  the  throat,  janty  chapeaux 
on  their  heads,  and  a  light,  slender  sword  at  the 
side,  which  hung  from  a  belt  inside  of  the  coat.  I 
looked  at  them  again,  and  more  than  ever  admired 
their  appearance.  They  walked  directly  towards 
us,  and  I  was  about  to  express  my  favorable  opin- 
ion of  them  to  my  friend,  when,  to  my  utter  aston- 
ishment, two  of  them  "  surrounded  "  me,  and  the 
other  two  performed  a  similar  service  for  Larry. 

"  Pardon,  monsieur,"  said  one  of  the  pair  at  my 
side,  as  they  locked  their  arms  in  mine,  and  began 
to  move  me  towards  the  Rue  Rivoli. 

u  Qu'est  ce  que  vous  voulez  ?  "  I  demanded. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  155 

"  Pardon,  monsieur"  was  the  only  reply  I  re- 
ceived, as  the  men  hurried  me  over  the  walks  to- 
wards the  street. 

"  I  say,  Phil,  how's  this  ?  "  called  Larry. 

"  I  don't  know  ;  I  don't  understand  it." 

"  Vous  vous  trompez ! "  (you  are  mistaken),  ex- 
claimed some  one  in  a  new  voice  behind  me! 

The  policemen  halted,  and  suddenly  released  their 
hold  of  Larry  and  myself.  Turning  to  see  who  had 
thus  kindly  interposed  in  our  favor,  I  discovered 
the  seedy,  long-haired  individual. 

"  Les  messieurs  sont  Americains"  added  he,  shak- 
ing his  head  vigorously,  as  though  he  was  much 
mortified  at  the  blunder. 

"Pardon,  messieurs"  said  the  officers,  as  they 
politely  touched  their  chapeaux,  and  walked  away 
into  the  crowd. 

What  had  passed  satisfied  me  in  regard  to  the 
long-haired  individual,  that  he  was  a  member  of  the 
secret  police,  a  spy,  or  a  stool-pigeon.  He  took  off 
his  preposterous  hat,  bowed  low,  demanded  "par- 
don" and  hastily  retreated  towards  the  Eue  Rivo- 
li ;  for  the  crowd,  never  partial  to  men  of  his  cloth, 
were  looking  at  him  with  suspicion  and  disfavor. 

"  I  am  sorry  it  ended  so  abruptly,"  laughed  Lar- 


156  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

ry.  '"  I  wanted  to  see  more  of  it ;  For  I  was  in 
hopes  we  were  arrested  as  red  republicans,  or 
something  of  that  sort,  and  I  rather  like  an  adven- 
ture." 

"  I  am  not  at  all  anxious  to  be  detained  a  week 
or  more  here,  though  I  suppose  my  passport  would 
have  got  me  out  of  the  scrape.  By  the  way,  Larry, 
you  ought  to  have  such  a  document." 

"  I  wouldn't  give  two  cents  for  a  barrel  of  them. 
What  do  I  want  of  a  passport  ?  " 

"  To  prove  that  you  are  an  American  citizen." 

"  If  Sir  Philip  Grimsby  and  the  spot  on  my  arm 
don't  lie,  I'm  not  an  American  citizen." 

"  No  ;  you  are  a  Briton." 

"  I  don't  half  like  the  idea  ;  but  the  pile  of  money 
has  a  reconciling  influence." 

When  the  band  in  the  garden  had  finished  the 
concert,  we  went  over  to  the  Hotel  Meurice.  As 
we  entered  the  court-yard,  we  saw  the  long-haired 
individual  seated  in  one  of  the  iron  chairs,  quietly 
smoking  a  cheap  cigar,  as  I  judged  it  was  by  the 
villanousodor  it  exhaled.  As  soon  as  he  perceived 
us,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  hastily  removed  his  pre- 
posterous hat,  and  bowed  with  the  most  extravagant 
deference. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  157 

"  How  are  you,  old  boy  ?  What's  the  meaning 
of  the  farce  you  played  off  on  us  in  the  garden  ?  " 
said  Larry,  not  supposing  that  the  long-haired  gen- 
tleman could  speak  English. 

"  I  came  here  to  beg  your  pardon  for  the  mis- 
take," replied  he,  bowing  low  again. 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Jones,  you  speak  English  !  " 

"  0,  yes  ;  I  speak  English,  French,  German,  Span- 
ish, Portuguese,  and  Italian,  which  is  my  native 
language." 

"  Bully  for  you  !  "  exclaimed  Larry.  "  Of  course, 
with  as  many  lingos  as  that,  you  don't  know  how 
to  hold  your  tongue." 

"  Even  better  than  I  do  to  speak,"  replied  he, 
blandly. 

"  What  did  you  take  us  to  be  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  I  took  you  to  be  American  gentlemen.  I  made 
no  mistake.     It  was  the  stupid  policemen." 

"  Whom  were  you  looking  for  ?  " 

"  For  London  pickpockets :  two  came  in  the 
train  to-day." 

"  Then  you  are  a  police  spy,  Mr.  Jones  ? "  in- 
quired Larry. 

"  Do  not  mention  it,  if  you  please.  I  interfered 
and  betrayed  myself  rather  than  permit  the  police 
to  annoy  you,  even  for  a  moment." 


158  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Jones.  That  was  doing  the 
handsome  thing,  Mr.  Jones." 

"  My  name  is  Cuore  [Koo-6-ray]  —  Giovanni 
Cuore,  at  your  service,"  added  the  spy,  bowing 
again.  "  In  English,  you  would  call  me  John 
Hart," 

"  How  did  you  know  that  we  were  Americans  ?  " 
I  asked. 

"  I  heard  you  speak  of  America  on  the  steamer. 
I  shall  have  the  two  pickpockets  arrested,  and  then 
I  shall  go  to  Italy,"  continued  Cuore,  who  seemed 
to  be  very  communicative  for  a  man  whose  business 
it  was  to  keep  still.  "  I  shall  go  to  Nizza  [Neet-za] 
to-morrow  night." 

"  Where  is  Nizza  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Ah,  in  English  you  call  it  Nice  [Nees],  as  in 
French." 

"  Are  you  going  to  Nice  ?  "  And  I  was  much 
interested  then,  for  1  intended  to  go  there  myself, 
in  order  to  obtain  some  information  in  regard  to 
my  mother. 

"  Yes ;  to  Nice,  and  then  to  Milan,  where  I  was 
born,  and  lived  till  I  was  twenty-two."  - 

This  was  exactly  my  own  route,  and  I  at  once 
regarded  Signor  Cuore  as  a  person  I  wished  to 
know  better. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       159 

"  But  the  Austrians  will  not  allow  you  to  visit 
Milan,"  I  suggested. 

"  I  go  where  I  please,  in  spite  of  Austrians, 
French,  or  Sardinians,"  he  replied,  significantly. 

"  I  suppose  you  intend  to  go  into  the  spy  busi- 
ness," I  added. 

"  Possibly,"  said  he,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 
"  But  I  must  look  for  the  two  pickpockets.  I  know 
where  to  find  them,  and  in  another  hour  they  will 
be  in  the  Ccmciergerie.  I  only  came  to  apologize 
for  the  mistake  ; "  and  taking  off  his  hat,  he  began 
to  retreat  backward  towards  the  entrance. 

"  One  moment,  Monsieur  Cuore.  Will  you  break- 
fast with  us  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  ?  "  I  inter- 
posed. 

"  You  do  me  very  great  honor,"  he  replied,  with 
the  same  extravagant  deference* 

"  But  I  desire  very  much  to  see  you  again." 

"  I  will  accept  your  considerate  invitation  with 
great  pleasure." 

"  Nine  o'clock." 

"  Nine  o'clock  ;  bon  soir,  monsieur"  he  answered, 
and  departed. 

"What  do  you  want  of  that  cove,  Phil?"  de- 
manded Larry. 


160  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  He  is  going  to  Italy,  and  is  an  Italian.     He  can 
help  me." 

"  How  do  you  know  but  he  is  a  government 


spy 


?  » 


"  I  don't  care  if  he  is.  I  have  no  intention  of 
subverting  the  government,  or  taking  part  with  the 
Austrians :  so  I  have  nothing  to  fear  from  all  the 
spies  in  the  world." 

We  walked  about  the  city  during  the  evening, 
and  retired  early.  The  next  day  all  Paris  was  ring- 
ing with  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Montebello,  in 
which  the  French  and  Sardinians  defeated  the 
Austrians.  Punctually  at  nine  o'clock  came  Signor 
Cuore.  He  assured  us  the  London  pickpockets 
were  arrested,  and  that  his  mission  was  ended. 
He  made  himself  very  agreeable,  and  was  satisfied 
that  I  should  be  able  to  enter  Milan,  if  I  would 
submit  to  his  direction.  He  would  aid  me  in 
every  possible  way.  Indeed,  Signor  Cuore  seemed 
to  exist  just  then  for  the  sole  purpose  of  serv- 
ing me. 

"  We  must  go  to  Marseilles,  and  then  by  steamer 
to  Nice.  The  train  leaves  the  station  Boulevard 
Mazas  at  twenty  minutes  past  eight  this  evening," 
said  Cuore,  as  he  bowed  and  scraped  his  adieus. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  1G1 

"  Now,  Larry,  I  don't  wish  to  drag  you  after 
me,"  said  I,  when  the  spy  had  gone. 

"  Wherever  thou  goest,  I  goest,"  laughed  he. 

"  I  am  going  into  a  disturbed  country." 

"  So  much  the  better.  If  I  can  get  near  enough 
to  a  great  battle  to  see  it,  I  shall  do  so.  As  I  told 
you,  I  had  just  as  lief  live  as  die,  and  I  should 
really  like  to  take  a  hand  in  the  fight  for  United 
Italy.     I  hate  an  Austrian  as  bad  as  any  of  them." 

"  I  may  get  near  enough  to  be  in  danger.  I  shall 
heed  no  peril.  If  I  am  sure  that  my  mother  is  in 
Milan,  I  shall  go  there  at  all  hazards  ;  for  she  may 
need  my  assistance,  and  one  don't  know  what  may 
happen  in  war.  But  I  won't  ask  you  to  go  into 
danger." 

"  I  don't  care  for  danger,  Phil.  I'm  not  a 
chicken,  and  I  think  I  can  stand  it  anywhere 
you  can." 

"  I  have  been  under  fire,  you  know ;  in  fact,  in 
a  battle." 

"In  a  little  Indian  squabble,"  laughed  Larry. 
"  I  have  been  in  a  street  fight,  which  is  about  the 
same  thing." 

"I  think  not;  about  twenty  men  were  killed  in 
my  battle." 

11 


162  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  That's  pretty  fair ;  but  the  war  in  Italy  this 
summer  will  be  no  boys'  play,  and  I  want  to  be  in 
it,  either  as  an  actor  or  a  spectator." 

"  Very  Avell ;  we  are  off  to-night,  then." 

During  the  day  we  wrote  our  letters,  drew  what 
money  we  needed,  and,  as  we  were  going  to  a 
troubled  region,  we  sewed  napoleons  into  our  sus- 
penders, waistbands,  and  other  available  places,  so 
that  we  need  not  be  deprived  of  the  ."  sinews  of 
war,"  in  case  of  accident.  At  the  time  indicated, 
we  were  at  the  railroad  station,  where  we  found 
Cuore,  as  bland  and  polite,  and  as  ready  to  serve 
us,  as  ever.  Though  the  train  Avas  rather  crowded, 
we  obtained  a  compartment  to  ourselves  by  his 
skill  and  address,  and  we  began  to.  realize  the  ben- 
efit of  having  such  an  "  old  stager  "  with  us. 

At  noon  the  next  day  we  were  in  Marseilles, 
where  we  embarked  the  same  evening  for  Nice. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       163 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IN    WHICH    PHIL    AND    LARRY    CONTINUE    THEIR    JOUR- 
NEY,   AND    MEET   A    FRENCH   GENERAL    OP    BRIGADE. 

WE  were  in  Marseilles  about  six  hours,  and 
had  time  to  obtain  a  general  view  of  the 
city.  Cuore  followed  us  wherever  we  went,  and 
seemed  to  know  the  place  as  well  as  if  he  had 
lived  there  all  his  life.  The  steamer  in  which 
we  embarked  was  French,  and  though  she  was 
crowded  with  passengers  on  their  way  to  the  seat 
of  war,  our  zealous  friend  obtained  the  best  ac- 
commodations on  board  for  us.  Larry  and  myself 
were  exceedingly  grateful  to  him  for  his  attention. 
The  sea  was  delightfully  smooth,  and  the  course 
of  the  vessel  was  in  sight  of  the  land.  We  re- 
mained on  deck  till  it  was  too  dark  to  see  any- 
thing, and  then  retired  to  the  cabin.  • 

"  You  will  drink  a  bottle  of  champagne  with  me 
now  —  won't  you,  gentlemen?"  said  Cuore,  as  we 
entered  the  cabin. 


164  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

"  1  thank  you,  sir ;  but  I  never  drink  cham- 
pagne, or  any  other  wine,"  I  replied. 

"  Nor  I,  either,*'  added  Larry,  shrugging  his 
shoulders,  as  though  he  regarded  his  refusal  as  an 
excellent  joke. 

"  Americans  are  very  singular  people,"  laughed 
the  Italian.  "  You  must  drink  wine  in  Italy.  The 
water  will  make  you  sick ;  and  besides,  it  is  warm 
and  not  pleasant  to  drink." 

"  I  think  I  can  stand  it.  I  was  brought  up  on 
river  water.  At  any  rate,  I  shall  be  sick  a  while 
before  I  drink  any  wine,"  I  continued. 

"  But  everybody  drinks  wine  in  Italy,"  persisted 
Cuore. 

"  No ;  I  don't." 

"  Nor  I,"  laughed  my  friend. 

Larry  and  I  went  to  our  state-room,  and  very 
likely  the  Italian  drank  his  champagne  before  he 
retired. 

"  Why  should  that  fellow  take  so  much  pains  to 
please  us?"  asked  Larry,  as  we  were  turning  in. 

"  I  don't  know,  unless  it  is  out  of  the  kindness 
of  his  own  heart,"  I  replied. 

"  That's  all  in  your  eye,  Phil.  I  never  drank 
much  champagne,  but  I  have  been  about  enough 


THE  STEUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       165 

to  notice  that  when  some  fellows  have  a  big 
*axe  to  grind,  they  use  champagne  for  the  grind- 
stone." 

"  Possibly  it  may  be  so  in  this  instance  ;  at  any 
rate,  we  will  keep  our  eyes  wide  open.  There  is 
one  thing  about  it,  Larry :  we  are  not  likely  to  be 
blinded  with  champagne." 

My  friend's  suggestion  seemed  to  be  worthy  of 
consideration,  and  while  I  was  thinking  about  it  I 
dropped  asleep,  and  did  not  wake  till  the  wheels 
of  the  steamer  stopped  in  the  port  of  Nice.  We 
went  on  shore,  and  taking  a  carriage,  drove  to  the 
Hotel  de  la  MediterranSe,  which  is  a  very  pleasant 
situation,  facing  the  sea.  I  had  chosen  this  hotel, 
and  insisted  upon  going  there,  because  my  cous- 
in's letter  had  informed  me  that  my  mother  had 
boarded  there,  though  Cuore  desired  to  stay  at 
the  Hotel  des  Etrangers.  Even  the  fact  of  being 
at  the  place  where  my  mother  had  spent  the 
winter  made  me  feel  nearer  to  her  than  I  had 
ever  consciously  been  before.  I  had  with  me  the 
precious  memorials  by  which  my  father  had  been 
enabled  to  identify  me,  and  I  hoped  soon  to  place 
them  before  my  other  parent. 

Mr.  Collingsby,  my  grandfather,  and  Mr.   Col- 


166  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

lingsby,  my  uncle,  had  persistently  refused  even 
to  consider  my  relationship  to  them,  or  to  glance* 
at  the  testimony  I  was  able  to  produce.  My 
mother  had  been  in  Europe  nearly  three  years, 
with  her  brother,  Joseph  Collingsby,  and  his  wife. 
I  had  never  seen  this  uncle,  but  I  supposed  he 
must  be  as  prudent,  dignified,  and  unsentimental 
as  the  rest  of  the  family  whom  I  had  met.  It  was 
even  possible  that  he  would  not  permit  me  to 
state  my  case  to  my  mother ;  but  I  was  deter- 
mined not  to  fail  in  my  undertaking.  My  first  and 
only  business  in  Nice  was  to  obtain  tidings  of  my 
mother,  and  as  soon  as  I  reached  the  hotel,  I  went 
to  work  upon  the  case.  I  applied  at  once  to  that 
important  personage  about  European  hotels,  the 
porter,  who  had  an  office  at  the  entrance.  He 
spoke  English,  as  well  as  three  or  four  other 
languages. 

"  Did  Mr.  Joseph  Collingsby  board  at  this  hotel 
during  the  winter  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  an  American,  you  mean  ?  "  replied 
the  porter. 

"  Yes  ;  who  were  with  him  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Collingsby  and  another  lady —  what  was 
her  name  ?  " 


THE  STBUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       167 

The  man  opened  his  register,  and  began  to  turn 
the  leaves. 

"  The  party  left  about  four  weeks  ago  to  go  to 
Milan  with  Signor  Bertani  and  family.  Here  is 
the  lady's  name — Mrs.  Farringford." 

The  sight  of  the  name  sent  my  heart  into  my 
throat,  and  it  did  not  at  that  moment  occur  to  me 
that  hostile  armies  lay  between  Nice  and  Milan. 

"  Is  the  lady  in  Milan  now?"  I  inquired. 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  think  so.  Signor  Bertani's 
family  spent  the  winter  here,  and  they  were  very 
intimate  with  the  Collingsby  party.  Signor  Ber- 
tani is  a  very  rich  Italian  gentleman,  and  has  a  fine 
house  in  Milan.  The  Collingsbys  were  to  stay  a 
month  or  two  with  them,  and  then  all  of  them  were 
going  to  Switzerland  ;  for  the  two  gentlemen 
talked  about  the  matter  in  my  hearing.  You  wish 
to  see  Mr.  Collingsby  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Farringford,  more  particularly." 

"  You  can't  go  to  Milan  now,"  added  the  porter. 

"  Perhaps  I  can." 

"  Signor  Bertani  made  his  fortune  out  of  the 
Austrians,  and  he  is  not  in  favor  of  United  Italy," 
continued  the  man,  whose  manner  allowed  no 
doubt  in  regard  to  his  politics. 


168  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  am  sorry  he  is  on  the  wrong  side,"  I  replied. 
"  But  can  you  tell  me  where  to  find  him,  in  case  I 
get  to  Milan?" 

"He  is  a  banker,  Corso  di  Bosinare,  No.  21," 
replied  the  porter,  writing  out  the  address  in  full. 
"  The  less  you  say  about  Signor  Bertani,  the 
better  it  will  be  for  you,  unless  you  are  among 
the  Austrians." 

I  paid  but  little  attention  to  this  friendly  warn- 
ing, and  afterwards  wished  I  had  heeded  it.  To 
me  the  political  question  was  a  very  plain  one,  and 
all  my  sympathies  were  with  France  and  Italy.  I 
believed  in  Cavour,  the  great  Italian  statesman, 
and  his  policy.  Lombardy  was  clearly  a  part  of 
Italy,  and  it  s-eemed  to  me  that  Austria  had  no 
right  there.  The  people  wished  to  be  restored  to 
their  natural  political  connections,  and  on  the  part 
of  the  Italians  it  was  "  freedom's  battle  "  which 
was  then  in  progress. 

My  business  in  Nice  was  accomplished  ;  but  we 
were  obliged  to  remain  in  the  city  till  the  next 
forenoon,  when  a  steamer  left  for  Genoa. 

"I  consider  myself  very  fortunate,  Larry,"  said 
I,  as  we  seated  ourselves  on  deck  to  watch  the 
shores  of  Italy,  after  the  steamer  had  started. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       169 

"  You  always  are,  Phil ;  but  I  don't  see  wherein 
you  are  particularly  so  just  now,"  replied  he. 

"  I  have  ascertained  just  where  my  mother  has 
gone." 

"  Not  much  luck  in  that ;  but  I  haven't  much  of 
an  idea  that  you  will  get  to  Milan  this  summer, 
unless  you  join  the  French  army,  and  go  in  with 
the  soldiers." 

"  I  would  even  do  that  for  the  sake  of  getting 
there." 

"  But  when  the  allied  army  goes  in,  your  mother 
will  not  be  there,  if  she  goes  with  the  Austrians." 

"  I  don't  believe  my  mother  goes  with  the 
Austrians ;  but  I  intend  to  find  her,  wherever 
she  goes." 

"  You  are  a  brick,  Phil.  Suppose  we  join  the 
French  army.  That  will  be  the  easiest  way  to  get 
into  Milan  this  summer.  I  really  want  to  take  a 
part  in  this  business,"  said  Larry. 

"  Of  course  I  couldn't  think  of  such  a  thing.  It 
would  spoil  all  my  plans." 

"  I  want  to  get  into  something  exciting." 

"  Perhaps  we  shall  have  that  without  going  into 
the  army.  By  the  way,  have  you  an  idea  that 
Cuore  had  any  business  in  Nice  ?  " 


170  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  If  he  had,  he  must  have  neglected  it,  for  I 
don't  think  he  was  out  of  my  sight  five  minutes  at 
any  one  time." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  that  this  morning.  He  sticks 
to  us  like  a  leech." 

"  That's  so ;  but  he  said  he  was  going  to  Nice 
before  you  said  anything  about  it.  He  did  not 
come  here  for  our  sakes." 

"  He  seems  to  keep  good  company,"  I  added, 
pointing  to  a  part  of  the  deck  where  a  group  of 
officers  stood,  the  principal  one  of  whom  was  talk- 
ing with  Cuore. 

"  He  is  not  a  bashful  man,  like  myself,"  laughed 
Larry.  "  He  seems  to  be  on  good  terms  with  that 
general  of  brigade." 

"  Is  that  his  rank  ?  " 

"  So  Cuore  told  me." 

The  genera]  was  certainly  a  good-looking  man, 
and  apparently  a  very  affable  one.  I  was  sur- 
prised to  -see  our  Italian  friend  so  intimate  with 
him ;  but  if  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  govern- 
ment, perhaps  it  was  not  very  strange  that  he 
should  be  on  speaking  terms  with  a  general  of 
brigade  in  time  of  war.  Larry  and  I  turned  in  at 
an  early  hour,  and  I  was  soon  asleep.     I  waked 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       171 

once  in  the  night,  and  found  that  the  little  steamer 
was  pitching  violently  in  a  head  sea.  The  weather 
had  been  rather  threatening  when  we  retired,  and 
I  expected  both  wind  and  rain  during  the  night. 
But  I  was  accustomed  to  a  stormy  sea,  and  turning 
over  in  my  berth,  I  went  to  sleep  again.  Early  in 
the  morning  Larry  waked  me. 

"  It  blows  great  guns,  Phil,"  said  he. 

"  Let  it  blow,"  I  replied,  still  quite  sleepy. 

"  I  don't  know  that  we  can  help  ourselves,"  he 
added  ;  "  but  I  have  been  up  half  the  night." 

"What  for?" 

"  I  couldn't  sleep.  The  steamer  rolled  so,  my 
brains  were  nearly  knocked  out.  The  French 
brigadier  was  on  deck ;  and  if  ever  a  brave  man 
was  frightened,  he  was." 

"  There  is  no  occasion  to  be  alarmed." 

"  I  am  not  alarmed ;  for  I  told  you  I  was  as 
ready  to  live  as  die.  I  was  speaking  of  the 
brigadier.  He  was  on  the  hurricane  deck,  hold- 
ing on  to  the  bob-stay." 

"Was  he,  indeed?  Then  he  has  tremendous 
long  arms,"  I  added,  laughing  at  Larry's  blunder. 

"  Well,  the  brig-stay,  then." 

"  I  never  heard  of  that  stay  before.     Probably 


172  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

it  was  the  mizzen-stay  ;  for  there  is  such  a  piece  of 
rigging  within  reach  of  the  hurricane  deck." 

"  The  brigadier  had  to  stay  there,  whatever  the 
stay  was.  The  steamer  dipped  the  water  in  over 
her  sides  as  she  rolled,  and  monsieur  expected  to 
go  to  the  bottom.  I  had  quite  a  chat  with  him, 
for  he  speaks  English  first  rate.  He's  going  direct- 
ly to  the  front." 

"  I'm  willing ;  but  if  you  have  been  up  half  the 
night,  Larry,  you  had  better  turn  in  again,  and 
finish  your  nap.  Your  berth  is  the  most  comfort- 
able place  when  it  blows." 

"  I  don't  think  so ;  I  want  to  see  the  fun,  and 
cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  the  brigadier.  I 
thought  you  might  want  to  know  what's  going  on ; 
so  I  waked  you.  Who  knows  but  I  may  get  a 
chance  on  the  brigadier's  staff.  I  know  all  about 
soldiering,  for  I  was  a  high  private  in  the  Forty- 
ninth  for  nearly  a  year.  If  I  could  only  speak  the 
lingo,  I  would  go  in." 

I  don't  know  what  else  my  friend  said,  for  I 
dropped  asleep  again.  I  was  not  much  interested 
in  his  military  aspirations,  and  I  concluded  that 
his  want  of  fluency  in  the  language  would  be  a 
sufficient   bar   to   all   his  hopes.     But  Larry  had 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  173 

improved  his  French  wonderfully,  for  he  had 
bought  a  phrase  book  in  Paris,  which  he  studied 
during  a  large  portion  of  the  time,  practising  with 
Cuore  and  myself.  I  slept  till  the  steamer's 
wheels  stopped,  and  then  went  on  deck.  The 
boat  was  two  hours  late,  and  when  I  joined  Larry 
she  was  inside  of  the  two  long  moles  which  pro- 
tect the  harbor  of  Genoa.  The  port  was  crowded 
with  French  and  Italian  transport  steamers,  which 
had  brought  in  troops  and  stores  from  Marseilles, 
Toulon,  and  Leghorn,  and  our  vessel  was  obliged 
to  anchor  near  the  jaws  of  the  harbor.  The  wind 
was  south-east,  and  still  blowing  a  gale,  which 
made  a  heavy  sea,  even  inside  of  the  moles.  But 
rough  as  the  sea  was,  the  shore  boats  came  off  for 
passengers ;  for  I  believe  there  is  not  a  single 
Mediterranean  port  where  vessels  go  up  to  a  quay 
or  wharf. 

Larry  was  talking  with  the  general,  who  still 
held  on  at  the  mizzen-stay,  and  his  military  coat 
was  soaked  by  the  spray  and  rain. 

"  Here  is  Phil,"  said  he,  as  soon  as  I  appeared 
on  deck.     "  He  knows  all  about  it." 

I  walked  up  to  him. 

"  General  Eberle,  this  is  my  friend,  Mr.  Farring- 
ford,"  continued  Larry. 


174  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

The  general  gave  me  his  hand,  and  greeted  me 
warmly,  though  he  did  not  release  his  hold  of  the 
stay  with  his  left  hand,  and  I  noticed  that  he  kept 
one  eye  on  the  surging  waves. 

"  Can  we  go  to  ze  shore  in  ze  little  boat?"  he 
asked,  anxiously,  as  he  glanced  at  the  small  craft, 
whose  owners  were  vociferously  offering  their 
services.     "  Voire  ami  a  dit  que  vous  ites  marin." 

"  Qui,  monsieur ;  you  can  land  very  well,"  I 
replied. 

"  I  have  ve»ry  much  fear  of  ze  watair." 

"  There  is  not  much  danger,  sir,  if  the  boats  are 
well  managed." 

I  said  what  I  could  to  assure  the  general  that  a 
boat  could  live  in  the  sea  around  us,  but  I  was 
willing  to  admit  that  it  was  not  without  peril.  I 
presumed  that  the  boatmen  were  skilful  in  their 
business.  He  was  very  anxious  to  leave  the 
steamer,  and  we  engaged  two  boats  to  land  us. 
They  were  small  craft,  and  were  manned  by  father 
and  son,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a  boy  of  sixteen. 
General  Eberle"  and  another  officer  went  with  the 
old  man,  while  Larry  and  I,  with  our  baggage, 
took  passage  with  the  boy.  Cuore  and  an  officer 
engaged  a  third  boat.     We  embarked  safely,  and 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       175 

in  another  moment  we  were  bobbing  up  and  down 
like  feathers  on  the  angry  waves.  A  combing 
wave  broke  over  the  stern  of  the  old  man's  boat, 
which  startled  the  general,  and  he  did  the  stupid- 
est thing  a  man  could  possibly  do  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, for  he  sprang  to  his  feet.  I  heard  the 
boatman  shout,  and  then  I  saw  the  brigadier  top- 
ple over  into  the  water.  He  disappeared  from  my 
sight  for  a  moment,  and  then  I  discovered  him 
struggling  on  the  top  of  a  huge  wave. 

"  Give  way,  man  !  "  I  shouted  to  our  boatman ; 
but  he  appeared  to  be  paralyzed  by  the  catas- 
trophe, and  did  not  understand  English. 

Finding  he  could  do  nothing,  I  sprang  from  the 
bow  of  the  boat  where  I  was  seated,  and  grasped 
the  oars.  Driving  the  boy  forward,  I  pulled  the 
boat  up  to  the  unfortunate  general.  But  just  at 
that  moment  his  head  bobbed  under.  I  brought 
the  little -craft  up  head  to  the  sea,  and  then  told 
the  boy,  in  French,  to  take  the  oars  again.  Per- 
haps he  understood  my  gestures  better  than  my 
words ;  at  any  rate,  he  obeyed  me,  and  I  returned 
to  the  bow. 

.  "  Keep  still,  Larry  !     Don't   move  !  "  I  shouted 
to  my  friend,  whose  movements  indicated  that  he 


176  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

intended  to  jump  overboard.     "  I  will  get  him  in  a 
minute." 

The  general  rose  again,  and  I  fastened  the  boat- 
hook  into  his  military  coat,  and  hauled  him  up  to 
the  bow.  By  this  time  the  old  man  had  come  to 
the  rescue,  and  with  his  aid  the  unfortunate  man 
was  hauled  into  his  boat,  which  was  nearly 
swamped  in  the  act. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A  SOLDIER.  177 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

IN   WHICH    PHIL    AND    LARRY    BECOME    SOLDIERS,    AND 
SPEND   THEIR   FIRST  NIGHT   IN  BIVOUAC. 

IT  seems  almost  incredible  that  a  man  so  brave 
as  General  Eberle"  proved  himself  to  be  in  the 
fiery  onslaught  of  battle  should  be  timid  under  any 
circumstances.  I  have  heard  of  a  sea  captain  who 
never  knew  what  fear  was  in  a  gale,  on  the  deck 
of  his  own  ship,  but  who  was  absolutely  terrified 
in  a  small  sail-boat,  when  the  wind  was  simply 
fresh.  The  general  was  certainly  frightened,  and 
had  practically  thrown  himself  overboard ;  but  the 
old  Italian  had  him  safe  in  the  bottom  of  his  boat 
now ;  and  I  saw  him  gesticulating  violently  to  his 
distinguished  passenger,  in  order  to  keep  him 
quiet  in  his  place. 

Neither  the  old  man  nor  the  young  man  was 
willing  to  come  about  in  that  heavy  sea;  for  we 
were  now  in  the  most  exposed  position.     Taking  a 
12 


178  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

sharp  angle  with  the  direction  of  the  waves,  they 
brought  their  boats  under  the  lee  of  the  steamer, 
and  there  came  about.  Keeping  well  in  towards 
the  shore,  where  the  water  was  partially  sheltered 
by  the  mole,  they  landed  at  the  custom-house  quay. 
General  Eberle  went  on  shore  first,  and  as  soon  as 
Larry  and  I  joined  him,  he  rushed  towards  me, 
threw  himself  upon  me,  and  hugged  me  as  though 
I  had  been  his  lost  baby.  I  was  not  a  little  star- 
tled at  the  demonstrative  Frenchman's  method 
of  testifying  his  gratitude. 

"  You  have  saved  my  life  ! "  exclaimed  he,  first 
in  French  and  then  in  English. 

"  That's  so,"  said  Larry. 

"  You  know  ze  boat ;  you  know  ze  sea,  Monsieur 
Farringford.  You  have  saved  my  life  !  "  repeated 
the  general,  hugging  me  again. 

I  submitted,  with  the  best  grace  I  could,  to  this 
loving  treatment ;  but  I  protested  that  I  had  done 
nothing  to  deserve  such  an  expression  of  emotion. 

"  You  have  saved  my  life.  You  have  saved  to 
France  and  Italy  a  general  of  brigade.  I  shall 
fight  well  with  ze  life  you  have  given  to  me." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  will." 

"  I  have  no  fear  on  ze  battle-ground ;  but  I  have 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF    A    SOLDIER.  179 

very  much  fear  in  ze  boat,"  added  the  general, 
apologetically.  "Now  we  will  go  to  ze  Hotel 
Feder,  if  you  please." 

"  I  have  some  baggage." 

But  my  trunk  passed  the  officers  without  open- 

* 

ing,  and  in  a  few  moments  we  reached  the  hotel. 
The  general  told  me  he  had  just  come  from  Al- 
giers, and.  had  been  assigned  to  a  command  in  the 
army  in  Italy. 

"  I  wish  to  go  to  Milan,"  said  I,  after  my  new 
friend  had  restated  his  obligations  to  me. 

"  It  is  not  possible  now  ;  but  the  army  will  be  in 
Milan  in  one  or  two  weeks.  You  shall  go  with 
the  army.     I  will  take  care  of  you  myself." 

"  Thank  you  ;  and  1  will  accept  your  offer,"  I  re- 
plied, promptly. 

He  left  me  to  change  his  wet  clothes  for  dry 
ones.  He  had  hardly  left  the  room  before  Cuore 
came  to  me,  though  he  had  not  been  out  of  my 
sight  since  we  landed  at  the  custom-house. 

"  Now  we  shall  go  to  Milan,"  said  the  Italian, 
rubbing  his  hands,  as  if  delighted  with  the  pros- 
pect. 

"  General  Eberle  says  it  is  quite  impossible,"  I 
answered. 


180  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  To  him,  yes  ;  to  me,  no,"  added  the  Italian. 

"  I  have  accepted  his  kind  invitation  to  go  there 
with  the  arm}r,  which  will  be  in  Milan  within  a 
week  or  two." 

"  You  have  accepted  his  invitation  !  "  exclaimed 
Cuore,  with  a  sudden  start  of  astonishment. 

"  I  have." 

"  What  for  have  you  done  this  ?  "  he  demanded, 
with  an  ugly  look,  such  as  I  had  not  before  seen  on 
his  face. 

I  thought  he  manifested  more  feeling  about  the 
matter  than  the  occasion  required ;  and  I  could 
not  but  ask  myself  again  why  he  had  taken  so 
much  pains  to  please  us. 

"Because  I  think  the  army  will  take  me  to  Milan," 
I  replied. 

"  But  the  army  may  never  get  to  Milan,"  pro- 
tested Cuore,  who  had  never  hinted  at  such  a  pos- 
sibility before,  and  who  had  all  along  professed  to 
believe  that  the  allies  would  march  straight  across 
the  plains  of  Lombardy,  as  soon  as  they  were  ready. 

"  Don't  you  expect  the  Austrians  will  be  beaten 
in  this  campaign  ?  "  I  asked,  quietly. 

"  Nothing  is  sure,  you  know.  The  Austrians 
have  many  soldiers  and  good  generals." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       181 

"  You  seem  to  have  changed  your  tone,  Signor 
Cuore." 

"  No ;  but  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  the  army 
enters  Milan." 

"  Well,  I  have  agreed  to  go  with  the  general." 

"  And  your  friend  ?  " 

"  Of  course  we  shall  keep  together." 

"  But  I  have  engaged  to  take  you  to  Milan." 

"Have  you?  We  will  release  you  from  the  ob- 
ligation, then.  But  I  am  not  aware  of  the  exist- 
ence of  any-  agreement  on  the  subject.  As  you 
were  going  to  Nice,  and  then  to  Milan,  and  we 
were  going  to  the  same  places,  we  have  come  to- 
gether." 

"But  I  have  pledged  myself  to  take  you  to 
Milan,"  replied  he,  warmly. 

"  I  did  not  know  it  before." 

"  And  if  you  go  with  me,  you  shall  be  in  Milan 
in  three  days,  at  the  most,"  said  he,  in  a  kind  of 
imploring  tone,  as  though  it  was  a  matter  of  some 
consequence  that  we  should  go  with  him. 

"  The  allied  army  and  the  Austrian  army  lie  be- 
tween us  and'  Milan.  Will  you  tell  me  how  you 
intend  to  pass  both  lines  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Hist !  Not  so  loud.  You  must  not  speak  of 
these  things." 


182  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  We  are  alone." 

"  The  Austrians  have  spies  everywhere,"  whis- 
pered Cuore. 

It  was  afterwards  shown  that  the  Austrians 
were  sadly  deficient  in  this  important  branch  of 
the  military  service. 

"  I  shall  not  start  on  an  expedition  through  the 
lines  of  either  army  without  knowing  anything 
about  the  means  of  passing  through." 

"  I  shall  be  your  guide  and  friend." 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  be  shot  with  you  as  a  spy, 
if  you  are." 

"We  shall  not  be  shot  if  you  trust  to  me.  I 
know  every  rod  of  ground  from  Genoa  to  Milan ; 
and  I  have  the  passes,"  added  Cuore,  in  a  whisper. 

"  Come,  Phil,  we  are  off  in  an  hour,"  said  Larry, 
joining  me  in  the  dining-room,  where  I  was  wait- 
ing for  breakfast.  "  Hurry  up  the  grub  ;  the  gen- 
eral is  about  ready." 

"  I  have  helped  you  through  so  far  ;  I  have  got 
the  best  cabins  in  the  steamers  for  you ;  I  have 
done  all  I  could  for  you." 

"  You  have  been  very  kind,  and  we  are  greatly 
obliged  to  you  for  your  favors." 

"  Precisely  so,"  added  Larry. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  183 

"  And  now  you  will  leave  me  ?  " 

"  That  depends  upon  which  way  you  are  going. 
If  you  are  going  with  us,  we  don't  leave  you,  any 
more  than  a  man  parts  with  his  head.  That's  so, 
'pon  my  soul !  "  said  my  friend,  lightly. 

The  entrance  of  the  general  terminated  the  con- 
versation, and  we  sat  down  to  breakfast.  I  pointed 
to  a  chair  for  Cuore ;  but  to  my  surprise,  he 
begged  to  be  excused,  and  took  his  meal  alone,  in 
another  part  of  the  room.  In  explanation  of  his 
conduct,  I  learned,  afterwards,  that  he  did  not  con- 
sider it  proper  for  him  to  sit  at  table  with  a  gen- 
eral of  brigade.  After  breakfast  we  departed  in  a 
military  train,  and  in  a  few  hours  arrived  at 
Alessandria,  which  was  a  strongly  fortified  city, 
the  citadel  being  quite  a  town  of  itself.  The 
place  was  crowded  with  French  soldiers,  for  it 
was  the  left  of  the  line  on  the  Po,  by  which  the 
emperor  intended  at  first  to  invade  Lombardy. 
He  had  now  just  changed  his  plan,  though  I  knew 
nothing  of  it  at  the  time,  and  was  moving  his  army 
up  towards  the  line  of  the  Ticino.  Troops  were 
constantly  arriving  and  departing ;  but  the  gen- 
eral soon  ascertained  that  his  brigade  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Vercelli. 


184  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 

"  The  whole  plan  is  changed/'  said  Cuore,  in  a 
solemn  and  mysterious  manner.  "  I  shall  go  to 
the  Lago  Maggiore,  and  into  Milan  from  the  north. 
I  intended  to  go  by  Pavia." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  plan  being 
changed  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  all  the  troops  are  moving 
towards  the  north  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea  which  way  they  are 
moving." 

"  Pardon ;  the  train  is  ready,"  said  General 
Eberle,  politely  interruping  the  conversation. 

We  took  our  places  with  the  general  in  the 
troop  train ;  but  Cuore  did  not  enter  the  compart- 
ment with  us,  though  we  knew  he  was  not  far 
away. 

i(  General,  do  you  know  Signor  Cuore  ?  "  I  asked, 
as  the  train  moved  off. 

"  No,"  replied  he,  shrugging  his  shoulders  in 
the  true  French  style. 

"  I  saw  you  talking  with  him  on  board  of  the 
steamer." 

"  I  have  never  seen  ze  man  till  then.  No ;  he  is 
in  ze  government  service,  he  say,"  added  the  gen- 
eral, laughing,  and  with  his  significant  shrug  im- 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       185 

plied  that  more  was  to  be    understood   than  was 
expressed.     "  He  only  tell  me  ze  news." 

In  two  hours  more  the  train  stopped  in  the 
fields.  The  ground,  as  far  as  we  could  see,  was 
covered  with  the  camps  of  the  French  and  Sardin- 
ian troops.  Our  military  friend  told  us  we  were 
near  the  front.  We  walked  about  a  mile,  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  general  of  division,  where  the 
brigadier  reported  himself.  An  aid  then  con- 
ducted us  to  a  farm-house,  at  least  two  miles  dis- 
tant, and  the  general  took  possession  of  his  head- 
quarters, relieving  the  officer  in  command.  I 
watched  all  the  formalities  with  interest,  after  the 
brigade  was  drawn  up.  Cuore  was  close  at  my 
side,  but  Larry  remained  in  the  farm-house  for  a* 
short  time.  When  I  was  beginning  to  wonder 
what  had  become  of  him,  General  Eberle  and  his 
staff  rode  by  me.  Of  the  latter  there  were  only 
three  or  four ;  but,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  not 
to  say  dismay,  I  recognized  Larry  as  one  of 
them !  He  wore  an  undress  uniform,  was  well 
mounted,  and  looked  as  much  like  a  Frenchman  as 
any  of  them.  As  he  passed  me  he  smiled,  and 
gave  me  the  military  salute.  I  concluded  that 
this  was  the  result  of  the  long  conversations  with 
the  general. 


186  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OE 

"  He  will  not  go  to  Milan ! "  exclaimed  Cuore, 
who  still  clung  to  me  like  a  brother. 

"  Probably  he  intends  to  go  with  the  army,"  I 
replied. 

"  This  is  very  bad ;  he  will  not  go  to  Milan 
with  us,"  muttered  the  Italian,  evidently  more 
disgusted  at  Larry's  conduct  than  I  was. 

"  You  and  I  can  go  alone,  then,"  I  suggested. 

"  You  will  not  leave  your  friend." 

"  No  ;  but  he  appears  to  be  leaving  me." 

I  felt  like  a  cat  in  a  strange  garret  after  the 
discovery  I  had  made.  The  Italian  for  a  time 
was  .my  only  companion,  and  he  was  even  more 
discontented  than  I  was.  When  the  parade  was 
dismissed,  I  went  back  to  the  farm-house,  which 
had  a  picture  of  the  Virgin  and  three  saints 
painted  over  the  front  door.  The  stable  was  con- 
nected with  the  house,  and  was  filled  with  officers' 
horses.  It  was  two  hours  before  the  general  and 
Larry  came  in  to  dinner. 

I  must  say  that  my  friend  made  a  fine-looking 
officer,  and  did  not  stumble  over  the  sword  that 
dangled  at  his  side.    . 

"  What  in  the  world  have  you  been  doing,  Lar- 
ry ?  "  I  exclaimed,  as  soon  as  I  had  a  chance  to 
speak  to  him. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       187 

"  I've  been  going  in  for  United  Italy,"  laughed 
he.  "  It  was  quite  impossible  for  me  to  keep  my 
fingers  out  of  this  pie." 

"  But  what  is  your  position  ?  "  I  asked,  curiously. 

"Volunteer  aid-de-camp,  without  pay.  Didn't 
you  hear  the  adjutant  read  my  appointment  on 
parade  ?  " 

"  No,  I  didn't  notice  it.  You  are  a  pretty  aid- 
de-camp  !  How  can  you  deliver  the  general's  or- 
ders, when  you  don't  understand  the  language,  and 
no  Frenchman  could  comprehend  you,  if  you  did  ?  " 

"  The  general  speaks  English,  and  he  will  write 
his  orders,"  laughed  Larry.  "  Come,  Phil,  there's 
another  place,  just  like  mine,  for  you." 

"  For  me  !  I  don't  know  the  first  thing  about 
military." 

"  Not  necessary  to  know  anything.  You  can't 
go'  to  Milan  with  the  army  in  a  civilian's  dress." 

"  I  will  think  of  it,"  I  replied,  tempted  by  this 
consideration. 

I  could  not  understand  how  it  was  possible  to 
appoint  an  utterly  incompetent  person  even  as  a 
volunteer  aid-de-camp ;  but  the  general  alone  was 
responsible  for  this  ;  and  I  realized  that  he  only 
desired  to  do  me  a  favor,  and  evidently  expected 


188  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

nothing  of  me.  To  my  surprise,  after  the  disgust 
he  had  manifested  at  Larry's  conduct,  Cuore  ad- 
vised, and  even  pleaded,  that  I  should  accept  the 
offer. 

"  You  will  have  nothing  to  do,  either  of  you,  ex- 
cept to  look  on.  The  general  gives  you  the  posi- 
tion for  your  own  protection  and  comfort,  because 
you  saved  his  life  in  the  Bay  of  Genoa,"  said  he. 
"  You  can  go  and  come  as  you  please  ;  and  very 
likely  your  position  will  enable  you  to  get  into 
Milan  sooner  than  without  it." 

Though  I  was  rather  inclined  to  distrust  my 
Italian  friend,  I  thought  he  was  right,  and  I  ac- 
cepted the  offer.  I  promptly  purchased  a  uniform, 
as  Larry  had  done,  of  a  sutler.  It  was  a  second- 
hand affair,  and  a  hole  in  the  breast  of  the  coat 
suggested  the  fate  of  its  former  owner ;  but  it  had 
been  thoroughly  renovated,  and  I  was  entirely  sat- 
isfied with  it.  The  sutler  declared  that  the  hole 
in  the  breast  of  the  coat  made  it  worth  ten  francs 
more,  for  the  owner  could  point  to  it  as  an  evidence 
of  his  courage  ;  but,  of  course,  any  one  could  shoot 
a  hole  through  his  coat,  and  thus  make  himself  a 
hero. 

I  had  left  my  trunk  in  Genoa,  transferring  a  few 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       189 

articles,  including  the  relics  of  my  childhood,  with 
which  I  never  parted,  to  a  small  bag.  I  made  a 
bundle  of  my  travelling  suit,  and  strapped  it  to  the 
bag,  for  I  did  not  think  I  should  long  remain  a 
soldier,  I  was  not  a  little  astonished  when  I  found 
myself  transformed  into  a  military  man  ;  and  I  sur- 
veyed myself  all  over  to  observe  the  effect.  I  was 
decidedly  in  favor  of  the  cause  which  I  had  thus 
lightly  espoused,  and  if  its  success  had  depended 
upon  my  arm,  or  even  my  life,  I  would  not  have 
been  backward. 

My  position  did  not  seem  real  to  me,  and  I  felt 
like  a  spectator  rather  than  an  actor  in  the  excit- 
ing events  which  were  transpiring  around  me.  I 
did  not  feel  called  upon  to  expose  myself  to  the 
perils  of  battle,  and  I  was  too  ignorant  of  the  mili- 
tary art  to  be  of  any  service  in  the  brigade.  We 
remained  at  this  camp  two  days,  during  which 
Larry  was  busy  every  moment  of  the  time,  hardly 
allowing  himself  the  needed  hours  of  rest.  On  the 
day  after  our  arrival  he  came  to  me  with  a  couple 
of  muskets  in  his  hands,  and  insisted  upon  my  tak- 
ing one  of  them.  He  then  put  me  through  a  por- 
tion of  the  manual,  using  the  French  words  of 
command.     When  I  expressed  my  surprise,  he  told 


190  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,   OR 

me  that  lie  had  been  taking  lessons  of  an  orderly  ' 
sergeant,  on  duty  at  headquarters.  I  soon  learned 
to  handle  a  musket,  and,  by  observing  the  drills 
and  parades,  obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  French 
technical  terms.  Of  course  my  stock  of  military 
science  was  very  slight  indeed,  though  I  could  not 
help  adding  to  it  almost  every  moment. 

On  the  third  day  after  our  arrival  all  the  troops 
appeared  to  be  in  motion,  and  our  brigade  was  soon 
on  the  march.  Larry  had  purchased  a  horse  for 
his  own  use,  though  I  declined  to  waste  my  money 
in  following  his  example  ;  but  a  steed  was  furnished 
for  me.  We  moved  forward  in  a  north-easterly  di- 
rection, over  fields  and  vineyards,  till  nine  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  and  then  halted  on  the  banks  of  a 
river.  Tents  and  baggage  had  been  left  behind, 
and  we  spent  the  night  in  bivouac  on  the  border 
of  the  stream. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  191 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

IN   WHICH     PHIL     AND     LARRY     MOVE     FORWARD    WITH 
THE   ARMY,   AND    DECIDE    TO    VISIT    MILAN. 

,Y  the  kindness  of  General  Eberle,  Larry  and 
I  were  plentifully  supplied  with  blankets, 
and  I  slept  very  well.  It  was  not  the  first  time  I 
had  passed  the  night  in  the  open  air,  for  1  had 
often  camped  under  a  tree  in  the  wilds  of  the  Up- 
per Missouri,  with  my  old  hunter  friend.  The 
army  had  been  moving  for  two  days,  but  I  could 
not  form  the  least  idea  of  what  was  going  on. 
Though  everything  was  in  perfect  order,  and 
every  division  and  brigade  was  doing  precisely 
what  it  had  been  directed  to  do,  the  whole  move- 
ment appeared  to  me  to  be  a  mass  of  confusion. 
For  two  days  more  we  moved  about  from  place  to 
place,  apparently  without  object  or  aim,  until  we 
again  bivouacked  on  the  bank  of  the  stream,  which 
was  the  River  Sesia.  I  heard  that  the  King  of 
Sardinia  was  on  one  side  of  us,  and  the  Emperor 


192  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

of  France  on  the  other ;  but  I  did  not  see  either 
of  them  that  day. 

On  the  following  morning,  for  the  first  time,  I 
heard  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  can- 
non, on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  This  was  the 
battle  of  Palestro.  The  King  of  Sardinia  had 
crossed -the  river  the  day  before,  and  the  Aus- 
trians  were  now  attacking  him  in  the  position  he 
had  taken.  The  fight  was  long  and  severe,  but 
the  Austrians  were  handsomely  repulsed  on  the 
front,  though  they  succeeded  in  flanking  the  Ital- 
ians on  the  right,  and  the  result  for  a  time  looked 
very  doubtful.  This  part  of  the  conflict  we  could 
see  from  our  position,  and  our  men  were  anxious 
to  take  part  in  it.  Larry  was  intensely  excited, 
and  declared  that  the  Austrians  had  won  the  day. 
The  general  thought  not,  for  the  French  could 
throw  in  twenty  thousand  men,  if  needed,  to  turn 
the  tide.  We  saw  the  Austrians  post  their  bat- 
teries on  a  rising  ground,  which  some  accounts  of 
the  battle  describe  as  a  hill,  though  there  is  no 
such  thing  in  this  part  of  Lombardy.  At  the  foot 
of  the  slope  was  a  canal,  which  conveyed  the 
waters  of  the  Sesia  to  a  mill.  Across  this  canal 
rushed  the  Third  French  Zouaves,  some  of  them 


THE   STEUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.  193 

on  the  narrow  plank  bridge,  and  others  through 
the  muddy  waters.  They  were  dashing  fellows, 
and  on  they  went  up  the  slope,  under  a  sharp  fire 
of  artillery  and  musketry.  I  saw  many  of  the 
brave  fellows  drop  on  the  way;  but  almost  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  they  had  captured  the  Aus- 
trian position,  taking  the  guns  and  many  prisoners, 
and  driving  hundreds  of  the  enemy  into  the  canal. 

The  field  was  won,  and  a  score  of  ringing 
cheers,  short  and  sharp,  rent  the  air.  The  Aus- 
trians  who  were  in  condition  to  do  so  fled.  In  the 
evening  they  rallied,  and  made  an  attempt  to  re- 
take the  place,  but  were  completely  repulsed. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Phil  ?  "  said  Larry, 
after  the  Zouave  charge. 

"  I  think  it  was  well  done." 

"  So  do  I ;  but  I  don't  like  to  stand  here  looking 
on,"  he  added,  impatiently. 

"  This  is  the  safest  position." 

"  Humph  !  That  isn't  what  I  bargained  for.  I 
want  to  hear  the  bullets  whistle." 

"  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  to  be   at  a  safe  dis- 
tance.    Bullets  that  whistle  have  an  ugly  habit  of 
boring  through  one's  bones  and  meat,  and  making 
the  blood  run." 
13 


194  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  That  is  what  makes  it  exciting  business.  If 
there  were  no  danger,  there  would  be  no  fun." 

"  I  don't  desire  that  sort  of  fun." 

"I  do." 

"  Do  you  suppose  Blanche  Fennimore  has  any 
particular  regard  for  you,  Larry  ?  " 

"  I  happen  to  know  that  she  has,"  replied  he, 
promptly. 

"  If  she  knew  that  you  were  trying  to  throw 
away  your  life  in  a  struggle  of  this  kind,  do  you 
think  she  would  be  comforted  by  the  knowl- 
edge ?  " 

" '  None  but  the  brave  deserve  the  fair.'  She 
will  think  ten  times  as  much  of  me  if  I  behave  like 
a  man." 

"  But  you  have  no  particular  interest  in  this 
quarrel.  You  go  into  it  as  a  mere  adventurer, 
because  you  like  excitement." 

"  I  have  a  particular  interest  in  it.  I  always  go 
in  for  the  bottom  dog,  and  I  am  willing  to  go  in 
for  any  people  that  are  oppressed  by  their  rulers. 
Where  would  our  country  —  or  your  country,  I 
suppose  I  must  call  it  now  —  have  been,  if  the 
French  hadn't  stepped  in  to  help  you  out  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  ;  but  perhaps  we  should  have 
come  out  all  right." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  195 

"  Perhaps  you  would  —  only  you  wouldn't." 

"  The  French  were  fighting  their  own  battle 
while  they  were  fighting  ours.  They  took  our 
part  because  they  hated  England,  rather  than 
because  they  loved  us,  though  this  fact  does  not 
relieve  us  of  the  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  to 
France.  If  you  behave  as  well  as  you  talk,  Larry, 
I  am  afraid  you  will  be  shot." 

"  I  will  bet  you  a  supper  for  the  crowd  that  I 
don't  get  shot." 

"  Bet !  That  would  be  trifling  with  the  mercy 
of  God." 

"  I  dare  say  you  are  right,  Phil.  You  ought  to 
have  been  a  parson." 

"  Don't  bet  on  anything,  Larry  ;  least  of  all,  on  a 
matter  so  serious  as  the  chances  of  life  ;  for  we 
are  always  in  the  hands  of  our  Father." 

"  But  the  chances  of  being  shot  are  really  less 
than  you  think,  Phil." 

"  There  are  chances  enough,  at  least." 

After  supper,  we  crossed  the  river,  and  bi- 
vouacked on  the  other  side.  The  next  morning 
we  marched  to  Novara,  and  encamped  outside  of 
the  walls.  It  was  evident  to  all  that  we  were  on 
the  eve  of  a  great  battle,  for  Milan  was  less  than 


196  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

thirty  miles  distant,  and  the  Austrians  would  not 
allow  the  capital  of  Lombardy  to  be  occupied  by 
the  allies  without  a  desperate  attempt  to  save  it. 
Our  general  thought  we  were  near  the  centre  of 
the  line,  and  that  in  less  than  three  days  we 
should  see  some  very  heavy  fighting.  I  was  not 
particularly  pleased  with  the  prospect,  especially 
as  I  found  that  my  military  friend  was  somewhat 
inclined  to  use  me.  On  parade,  and  elsewhere,  I 
carried  orders,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  Avas  an 
errand-boy  on  a  large  scale.  I  did  not  object  to 
being  an  aid-de-camp  in  the  reserve,  if  this  portion 
of  the  force  was  not  called  into  action. 

"  There  will  be  lively  times  here  soon,  Phil," 
said  Larry,  as  we  met  at  sunset. 

"  I'm  not  anxious  to  see  any  such  times  as  you 
suggest,"  I  replied.  "  In  fact,  I'm  rather  sorry 
that  I  put  on  this  uniform." 

"  Come,  Phil,  don't  back  down." 

"  I  haven't  backed  down ;  but  I  don't  want  to 
be  shot,  or  to  be  thrown  into  an  Austrian  prison." 

"  Are  you  afraid  ?  " 

"I  am  —  a  downright  coward  in  this  business; 
for  I  feel  that  it  does  not  particularly  concern  me." 

"  You  are  honest,  Phil ;  but  I  don't  believe  you 
are  a  coward." 


THE   STEUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  197 

"  I  am." 

"  Impossible  !  "  said  a  voice  behind  us,  which  we 
identified  as  that  of  Cuore. 

We  had  not  seen  him  before  for  three  days,  and 
I  supposed  he  was  on  his  mission  within  the 
Austrian  lines. 

"  I  thought  you  were  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Ticino,"  I  suggested. 

"  I  have  been  ;  but  I  have  come  back.  I  have 
been  in  Milan,"  replied  the  Italian. 

" Indeed ! " 

"  I  left  Milan  last  night." 

"  Last  night  !  "  I  exclaimed,  astonished  at  the 
facility  with  which  he  seemed  to  pass  through  the 
hostile  lines.  "  How  could  you  have  come  through 
so  soon?" 

"  The  trains  on  the  railroad  run  down  as  far  as 
Magenta,  to  bring  supplies  for  the  troops  ;  from 
there  I  came  in  a  baggage  wagon  nearly  to  the 
Ticino  River.     I  am  going  back  again  to-night." 

"  To  Milan  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Cuore  was  very  fluent  in  his  speech,  and  did 
not  seem  to  be  at  all  fatigued  by  his  long  journey 
and  the  excitement  of  passing  through  the  pickets 


198  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

of  both  armies.  He  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  wonder- 
ful fellow,  and  I  could  form  some  idea  of  the 
importance  of  the  man  to  the  French  arms,  for 
doubtless  he  had  informed  the  generals  of  the 
precise  location  and  numbers  of  the  Austrians.  I 
was  strongly  impressed  by  his  skill  and  powers  of 
endurance,  and  I  gazed  at  him  with  wonder  and 
astonishment. 

"  I  passed  through  the  Corso  di  Bosinare,  while 
I  was  in  Milan,"  he  added,  as  I  was  still  regarding 
him. 

"What's  that?"  I  asked. 

"  Don't  you  remember  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Signor  Bertani,"  he  continued,  suggestively. 

"  Ah,  did  you,  indeed  ?  It  was  very  kind  of 
you  to  think  of  me,  when  you  had  so  much  busi- 
ness on  your  hands,"  I  replied,  recalling  the  name 
as  the  friend  of  my  mother,  and  of  the  Collingsbys, 
to  whom  he  alluded. 

"  I  never  forget  or  neglect  a  friend." 
."Did    you  obtain    any    information?"   I    asked, 
deeply  interested  in  the  matter. 

"  I  did  ;  I  spoke  with  Signor  Bertani  himself." 

"  Are  his  American  friends  still  with  him  ?  " 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  199 

"  They  are,  and  are  likely  to  remain  with  him ; 
for,  you  see,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  get  into 
Switzerland,  by  any  direct  route,  for  Garibaldi  and 
the  Chasseurs  d'Alpes  hold  the  lakes,  and  have  pos- 
session of  all  the  steamers.  Besides,  the  Austrians 
in  Milan  do  not  expect  to  lose  the  city." 

"  But  suppose  the  city  should  be  captured ; 
would  Signor  Bertani  leave  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Certainly  he  would ;  the  Italians  would  hang 
him  if  they  caught  him." 

"  Would  his  family  depart  ?  " 

"  I  think  not.  If  Milan  is  captured,  the  Austrians 
will  want  all  the  railway  carriages  for  their  own 
use,  and  would  not  give  them  up  for  women  and 
children,  who  would  be  perfectly  safe  in  the  city. 
But  you  should  go  to  Milan  before  the  army." 

"  Why  so  ?  " 

"  You  will  be  sure  to  find  your  mother  now  ;  but 
if  you  wait  two  or  three  days  the  Austrians  may 
fortify  the  city.  Then  the  French  will  bombard  it, 
and  the  women  and  children  must  all  leave." 

"  Do  you  think  1  could  pass  through  the  lines  ?  " 
I  asked,  somewhat  excited  by  such  a  prospect. 

"  You  can  pass  safely  through  with  me.  I  will 
promise  that  both  of  you  shall  be  in  Milan  before 
six  o'clock  to-morrow  morning." 


200  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  cannot  go,"  interposed  Larry. 

"  Not  go  with  your  friend  ?  "  said  Cuore. 

"  No  ;  I  am  going  to  see  that  big  battle,  and  have 
a  finger  in  the  pie,  too.  I  shall  not  leave  the 
army,"  added  Larry,  very  decidedly. 

"  I  thought  you  would  keep  together,"  continued 
the  Italian,  who  seemed  to  be  strangely  vexed  and 
disturbed  at  the  decision  of  my  friend. 

"  Never  mind  me,  Phil.  Go  ahead  with  him, 
and  I  shall  see  you  when  we  get  to  Milan,"  said 
Larry. 

"  But  I  can  take  the  two  better  than  one,"  an- 
swered Cuore. 

"  How's  that  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  I  have  a  pass  for  three  persons,"  said  he,  taking 
a  paper  from  his  pocket,  which  he  showed  to  me. 

It  was  written  in  German,  and  he  knew  that  I 
was  entirely  ignorant  of  that  language.  He  per- 
mitted me  to  see  it,  but  not  to  take  it  from  his 
hands. 

"  Let  me  see  it,"  added  Larry.  "  I  will  take  it 
to  our  orderly.  He  is  a  Swiss,  and  speaks  German 
like  a  Dutchman.     Let  me  take  it." 

"  No  —  pardon  ;  I  must  not  let  my  pass  go  out  of 
my  own  hands,"  replied  Cuore,  folding  up  the  paper 


THE  STEUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       201 

and  returning  it  to  his  pocket.  "  I  must  be  very 
prudent.  I  am  in  the  employ  of  the  Austrians  as 
well  as  the  French  ;  but  I  give  them  only  such  in- 
formation as  will  be  useful  to  United  Italy." 

Cuore  chuckled,  and  looked  very  cunning.  It 
seemed  very  strange  to  me  that  a  pass  which  would 
answer  for  three  persons  would  not  do  for  two  ; 
and  I  expressed  myself  to  this  effect. 

"  Ah,  you  see  I  have  promised  to  bring  over  to 
the  Austrian  general  two  men  who  can  tell  better 
than  I  where  the  French  are  posted.  You  can  tell 
him  ;  but,  of  course,  you  will  not  give  him  any  cor- 
rect information.  I  have  obtained  this  pass  for 
you,  and  both  must  go,  or  neither." 
"  I  can't  go,  Phil,"  said  Larry. 
"  You  may  return  before  the  great  battle  takes 
place,"  suggested  Cuore.  "  There  may  be  no  fight 
for  a  week." 

"  And  there  may  be  one  to-morrow." 
"  No,  not  possible.     The  allies  are  not  in  position 
to  fight  a  battle  yet." 

"  No  one  can  know  when  it  will  come  off.  I  dare 
say  his  majesty  the  Emperor  of  France  has  laid  his 
plans  well,  for  he  is  a  very  clever  fellow  ;  but  even 
he  cannot  tell  when  the  battle  will  be  fought.     He 


202  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

may  intend  to  set  the  ball  rolling  in  three  days,  or 
a  week  ;  but,  I  take  it,  the  Austrians  may  have  a 
finger  in  the  pie,  as  well  as  the  emperor  and  my- 
self, and  if  they  take  a  notion  to  fight  a  battle  to- 
night even,  we  can't  help  ourselves.  The  emperor 
and  I  are  not  going  to  keep  still,  and  let  them  whip 
us  ;  so  you  see  I  can't  go.  It  is  morally,  socially, 
and  politically  impossible,"  continued  Larry. 

"  I  can  go  without  you,"  I  replied. 

"  Certainly  you  can,  Phil." 

"  If  I  have  one,  I  must  have  two,"  persisted 
Cuore. 

"  Can't  you  tell  the  Austrian  general  that  one  of 
your  men  had  a  corn  on  his  little  toe,  and  couldn't 
come  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  the  Italian,  shaking  his  head  vio- 
lently ;  and  it  was  plain  that  he  did  not  intend  to 
visit  Milan  without  my  friend. 

"  Here's  the  general,"  said  Larry.  "  "We'll  lay 
the  matter  before  him." 

My  friend  stated  the  case  to  General  Eberle,  who 
at  once  declared  that  no  battle  was  possible  within 
twenty-four  hours,  and  that  the  emperor  would 
choose  his  own  time,  in  spite  of  the  Austrians. 

"  But  this  is  very  perilous  business,"  he  added. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       203 

"  Then  I  would  like  to  engage  in  it,"  said  my 
obstinate  friend. 

"  I  can  make  it  very  safe,"  interposed  Cuore, 
with  the  utmost  deference. 

The  general  turned  to  the  Italian,  and  began  to 
question  him  rather  sharply  in  regard  to  his  busi- 
ness in  the  camp.  Cuore  replied  very  promptly, 
and  substantially  in  accordance  with  what  he  had 
said  to  us. 

"  Show  the  Austrian  pass,  signore,"  added 
Larry. 

"  No/'  interposed  the  general,  walking  away. 
"  If  he  were  not  your  friend,  gentlemen,  I  would 
order  ze  arrest  of  ze  man." 

"  But  he  is  in  the  employ  of  the  French,"  I 
replied. 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  the  general,  shrug- 
ging his  shoulders. 

"  He  brought  information  to  General  Canrobert, 
this  morning,  from  Milan." 

"  I  don't  know  ;  I  can't  say,"  added  the  general. 

He  declared  that  a  spy  could  be  known  only  to 
his  immediate  employers.  He  knew  nothing  about 
the  man.  If  he  saw  an  Austrian  pass,  he  should 
be  obliged  to  arrest  him ;  therefore  he  would  not 


204  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

see  it.  He  seemed  to  have  no  opinion  whatever 
in  regard  to  Cuore,  and  left  us  free  to  do  as  we 
deemed  advisable.  I  had  some  suspicions  in  re- 
gard to  the  Italian ;  but  I  could  not  trace  them  to 
any  reasonable  foundation.  I  discussed  the  matter 
for  half  an  hour  with  Larry,  and  then  we  decided 
to  visit  Milan. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  205 


CHAPTER  XV. 

IN  WHICH    PHIL  AND    LARRY   FLOAT    DOWN   THE  CANAL, 
AND    ARE   DISTURBED    BY   FRENCH    PICKET    GUARDS. 

I  HAD  a  certain  confidence  in  Cuore,  which  led 
me  to  believe  that  he  was  able  to  do  what  he 
promised,  though  I  was  not  willing  to  give  myself 
blindly  into  his  charge.  The  general  knew  noth- 
ing about  him,  and  said  nothing  to  weaken  my 
confidence.  I  could  not  see  why  he  should  be  so 
anxious  to  have  Larry  go  to  Milan,  when  my 
friend  had  no  business  there,  as  I  had.  We  walked 
back  to  the  place  where  we  had  left  the  Italian, 
and  told  him  we  were  ready  to  depart.  Of  course 
anything  like  baggage  was  out  of  the  question ; 
but  I  had  put  the  locket  and  bracelets  of  my  child- 
hood into  a  pocket  inside  of  my  vest,  for  I  had  not 
dared  to  leave  these  valuables  in  my  bag  at  the 
camp.  The  shawl  and  the  dress  were  in  my 
trunk  at  Genoa. 


206  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  We  are  rather  too  early  yet,"  said  Cuore,  as 
he  glanced  around  him. 

"  Why  too  early  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  The  less  time  we  have  to  spare,  the  fewer 
questions  we  shall  have  to  answer.  I  have  a 
couple  of  letters  I  wish  to  post,"  added  the  Ital- 
ian, thrusting  his  hands  into  his  pockets.  "  I  must 
send  them  to  Novara." 

"  You  can  leave  them  at  the  camp.  An  orderly 
goes  up  to  the  town  with  the  mail  every  day," 
said  Larry.  "  Give  them  to  me,  and  I  will  see 
that  they  are  sent." 

"  I  will  go  to  the  headquarters,"  replied  Cuore, 
still  fumbling  in  his  pockets  for  the  letters.  "  I 
must  give  the  orderly  the  money  to  pay  the 
postage." 

We  went  to  the  house  in  which  the  brigade 
headquarters  were  located.  Cuore  gave  his  let- 
ters to  the  orderly,  who  put  them  in  a  leather  bag 
which  hung  on  the  wall. 

u  Now  we  are  ready  to  go,"  said  Cuore.  "  We 
have  a  long  walk  before  us,  and  I  hope  you  are 
fresh  and  strong." 

"  I  can  walk  all  night,"  I  replied. 

"  So  can  I ;  but  hurry  up  your  cakes,  signore," 
added  Larry. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER."  207 

"  My  cakes  ? "  repeated  the  Italian.  "  I  have 
been  to  supper." 

"  So  have  I ;  and  therefore  let  us  keep  moving. 
We  go  as  though  we  were  attending  the  funeral 
of  a  general  of  division." 

"  We  must  not  hurry.  We  shall  pass  the  French 
lines  about  five  kilometres  from  here,  and  I  do  not 
wish  to  go  through  till  about  dark." 

"Why  not?  If  you  have  a  pass  for  the  crowd, 
what  difference  does  it  make  ?  "  replied  Larry,  im- 
patiently. 

"  It  will  make  much  delay.  I  have  a  pass  signed 
by  General  Canrobert;  but  —  " 

"  Let  me  see  it,"  interposed  Larry. 

"  Not  here  ;  by  and  by,  when  we  halt  for  a  time, 
you  shall  see  it.  But  I  wish  to  go  through  the 
French  line  without  showing  the  pass." 

"  Why  so  ?     Do  you  want  to  be  shot  ?  " 

"  No,  no ;  of  course  I  don't  want  to  be  shot. 
When  it  is  dark  I  can  get  through  with  less  delay. 
If  I  show  the  pass,  the  soldiers  will  send  for  the 
sergeant,  the  sergeant  for  the  sous-lieutenant,  he 
for  the  captain,  the  captain  for  the  general  of  brig- 
ade, and  the  general  of  brigade  for  the  general  of 
division ;  then  it  must  go  to  the  field  marshal,  and 


208  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

from  him  to  the  emperor ;  and  we  shall  not  get 
through  till  to-morrow  night." 

"  Then  you  are  going  to  run  through." 

"  Precisely  so ;  but  if  any  one  stops  us,  I  have 
the  pass  for  three  persons." 

"  If  any  one  can  go  through  the  pickets  as 
easily  as  you  suggest,  they  don't  amount  to 
much,"  said  Larry. 

"You  don't  understand  me." 

"That's  so;  I  don't." 

"  I  know  the  country,  and  I  have  a  grand  plan 
to  do  this  business  right.  You  have  seen  some 
canals  in  this  part  of  Italy." 

"  Plenty  of  them,"  answered  Larry. 

"  You've  seen  that  they  have  trees  on  each  side." 

"  Yes ;  I  haven't  been  over  a  ditch  that  did  not 
have  a  row  of  trees  or  bushes  on  both  sides." 

"  I  shall  bring  you  to  a  canal  that  runs  into  the 
river,"  continued  Cuore. 

"What  river?"  I  asked. 

"  The  Ticino,  which  flows  into  the  Po  near 
Pavia.  This  river  is  the  picket  line  for  the  Aus- 
trians  on  one  side,  and  the  allies  on  the  other;  but 
neither  line  goes  very  near  the  river.  On  the 
canal,  one  kilometre  from  the  stream,  I  have  a  boat, 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       209 

in  which  I  came  over  this  morning  —  a  petit  ba- 
teau, in  which  we  can  float  down  to  the  river, 
in  the  shade  of  the  trees,  without  being  seen." 

"  Of  course  the  pickets  will  hear  the  sound  of 
the  oars  or  paddle,"  suggested  Larry. 

"  We  shall  use  no  oars." 

"  But  the  water  in  the  canal  must  run  from  the 
river." 

"  No,  no ;  it  runs  the  other  way." 

"  That's  a  humbug,"  protested  Larry. 

"  What  do  you  call  humbug?  " 

"  What's  the  canal  for,  if  it  don't  run  from  the 
river  ?  " 

"  It  is  to  wet  the  land,  to  —  what  you  call  it  ?  — 
to  irritate  —  no ;  to  —  " 

"  Irrigate,"  I  suggested. 

"  Ah,  to  irrigate  the  land  !  You  are  right.  The 
canal  flows  from  the  river  in  one  place,  farther  up, 
and  comes  back  into  the  river  in  another  place, 
below  the  first.  From  the  big  canal  flow  a  great 
many  small  ones  through  the  land,  so  that  the  wa- 
ter can  be  spread  all  over  the  fields." 

"  Precisely  so ;  I  understand  it,  Larry." 

"  So  do  I ;  and  we  will  grant  that  the  water  in 
this  part  of  the  canal  runs  into  the  river." 
14 


210  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 

"  I  have  told  you  all  the  way  then,"  resumed 
Cuore.  "  The  flow  of  the  water  will  take  the  little 
boat  into  the  river.  We  cross  over,  and  go  into 
a  canal  on  the  other  side." 

"  And  I  suppose  that  canal,  to  suit  our  conven- 
ience, runs  from  the  river,"  laughed  my  friend. 

"  You  are  right,"  replied  Cuore.  "  Its  waters 
will  carry  us  to  a  safe  place.  Then  we  walk  up 
to  Magenta,  where  there  is  very  often  a  train  for 
Milan." 

"  No  doubt  of  it ;  everything  seems  to  have  been 
arranged  especially  for  our  convenience." 

"  Ah,  you  see,  I  know  the  country  !  That  is  the 
reason  the  French  generals  sent  me  on  a  mission 
for  them,"  added  the  Italian,  with  much  self-com- 
placency. 

"  Do  you  expect  to  float  down  this  canal  with- 
out being  noticed  by  the  sentinels?  "  I  inquired. 

"I  do ;  but  what  matter  if  we  are  noticed  ? 
You  wear  the  uniform  of  French  officers.  If  we 
are  stopped  I  have  only  to  show  the  pass  of  Gen- 
eral Canrobert." 

I  had.  become  so  accustomed  to  the  military  sa- 
lute, greeting  us  at  almost  every  step  of  our  walk, 
which,  of  course,  Larry  and  I  returned,  that  I  had 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  211 

almost  forgotten  my  existence  as  a  civilian.  We 
passed  from  one  camp  to  another  without  diffi- 
culty, for  our  uniform  was  all  the  pass  we  re- 
quired. It  did  not  occur  to  me  then  that  we  were 
conducting  Cuore,  instead  of  the  reverse,  until, 
when  we  had  finished  our  conversation,  and  the 
Italian  walked  a  little  ahead  of  us,  he  was  chal- 
lenged by  the  sentinel.  A  word  from  Larry,  bad 
French  as  it  was,  enabled  him  to  pass. 

We  walked  our  five  kilometres,  or  about  three 
miles,  and  reached  the  canal  which  our  guide  had 
described.  It  was  half  a  mile  from  the  nearest 
camp,  where  the  last  line  of  sentinels  was  posted, 
and  the  space  between  it  and  the  river  was  pa- 
troled  by  pickets.  On  the  other  side  of  the 
stream,  Austrian  guns  were  posted  behind  field- 
works.  The  country  was  covered  with  long  lines 
of  mulberry  trees,  between  which,  in  the  same  row, 
were  grape-vines  trained  up  between  the  trees. 
The  land  had  been  sown  with  grain,  but  the  march 
of  armies  had  been  over  it,  so  that  the  crop  was 
ruined.' 

Cuore  led  us  to  a  point  on  the  canal  which  was 
overgrown  with  osiers,  from  which  the  owner  evi- 
dently obtained  his  basket-stock.     Just  above  it  a 


212  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

party  of  French  officers  were  bathing.  Among 
the  osiers  lay  the  boat.  It  was  a  flat-bottom  affair, 
half  Ml  of  water.  We  dragged  it  up  and  turned 
it  over,  but  it  did  not  look  like  a  very  promising 
craft  for  a  long  cruise. 

"  It  leaks  badly,"  said  Larry. 

"  No  ;  not  at  all,"  replied  Cuore.  "  I  filled  it  with 
water  to  prevent  the  soldiers  from  taking  it." 

"  I  say,  signore,  if  you  mean  to  drown  us,  say  so 
in  the  beginning,"  added  Larry,  glancing  at  the 
frail  bateau. 

"  No,  you  cannot  be  drowned.  The  water  is  not 
deep  in  the  canal,  and  not  deep  in  the  river.  I 
have  come  two  miles  in  that  boat  this  morning." 

"  The  boat  is  well  enough,"  I  interposed,  as  I 
seated  myself  in  the  forward  part. 

"  Whatever  you  say  about  boats,  Phil,  I  be- 
lieve," added  my  friend,  taking  his  place  in  the 
stern. 

"  Now  you  will  take  these,"  continued  Cuore, 
drawing  a  couple  of  fish-poles  from  the  osiers. 

"  0,  then  this  is  a  fishing  excursion — is  it?"  ex- 
claimed Larry,  as  he  examined  the  hook  and  line. 

"  Yes ;  the  pickets  will  make  no  trouble  when 
they  see  two  officers  fishing  in  the  canal,  or  in  the 
river." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       213 

"  I  say,  signore,  is  there  any  danger  of  catching 
a  fish  here  ?  " 

"  Plenty  of  fish  here." 

"  I  like  fishing ;  but  we  have  no  bait." 

"  Yes,  there  is  bait  in  the  tin  box  under  the 
seat." 

Larry  opened  the  box,  and  found  a  variety  of 
live  bugs,  one  of  which  he  impaled  on  his  hook.  I 
dropped  ray  line  to  him,  and  he  baited  my  hook  in 
the  same  manner. 

"  Now  let  the  boat  float  down  the  canal,  and 
don't  use  the  oars,"  said  Cuore. 

"But  are  you  not  going  with  us?"  I  asked, 
when  I  saw  by  his  movements  that  we  were  to  be 
alone. 

"  Not  yet ;  I  will  get  into  the  boat  in  a  few  mo- 
ments. The  current  will  hardly  move  you,  and  I 
wish  to  see  where  the  picket  line  is.  1  will  not 
lose  sight  of  you.  Don't  be  alarmed,"  said  Cuore, 
in  a  low  tone. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  demanded  Larry. 

"  Only  a  short  distance  from  the  canal.  When  I 
see  just  where  the  pickets  are,  I  can  manage  it 
better.  I  wish  them  not  to  see  us  till  we  get  into 
the  river." 


214  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Then  they  will  fire  upon  us,"  I  suggested. 

"  No,  they  will  not.  They  will  see  that  you  are 
French  officers." 

"  But  the  Austrians  will." 

"  No,  no,  no ;  the  Austrians  expect  us.  They 
know  we  are  coming,"  answered  the  Italian,  impa- 
tiently, as  he  pushed  off  the  boat,  and  disappeared 
behind  the  osiers. 

We  did  not  see  him  again  very  soon. 

The  boat  floated  out  into  the  canal,  which  was 
not  more  than  ten  feet  wide.  We  dropped  our 
lines  overboard.     Our  craft  hardly  moved. 

"  I  have  a  bite  !  "  exclaimed  Larry. 

"  Pull  him  in,  then  !  " 

"  Lost  him  !  Well,  that's  just  my  luck.  If  I 
bait  for  anvthing  I  never  catch  it." 

"  But  the  fish  jump  into  your  basket,  without 
giving  you  the  trouble  to  catch  them.  In  a  few 
years,  more  or  less,  you  will  be  Sir  Lawrence 
Grimsby ;  and  I  suppose  you  won't  know  such 
small  fish  as  I  am  then." 

"  Dry  up,  Phil !  You  are  the  first  real  friend  I 
ever  had.  You  lend  me  money  and  tell  me  I  am  a 
vagabond  in  the  same  instant.  I  don't  talk  grati- 
tude, or  any  such  bosh  ;  but  —  no  matter;  I  have 
another  bite.     Gone  again,  as  usual !  " 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  215 

"  I  wonder  where  Cuore  is,"  I  added,  not  feeling 
much  interest  in  fishing,  while  our  boat  was  bear- 
ing us  slowly  towards  the  hostile  lines. 

"  I  don't  know.  You  never  bet,  Phil,  nor  I, 
since  I  knew  you.  But  six  months  ago,  I  would 
have  gone  three  against  two  that  this  Cuore  is  a 
knave." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  do,  'pon  my  soul." 

"  I  have  had  some  suspicions." 

"  So  have  I ;  but  I  can't  make  it  out ;  so  I  try  to 
think  he  is  all  right,"  replied  Larry.  "  What  is 
the  fellow  driving  at  ?  Why  is  he  so  anxious  that 
I  should  go  to  Milan,  when  I  haven't  the  least 
desire  to  go  there  at  present?  " 

"  I  don't  understand  him ;  and  I  don't  see 
through  this  business.  Why  should  he  leave  us 
floating  down  this  canal  alone  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  don't  like  to  back  out  of  any- 
thing, Phil ;  but  I  expect,  as  soon  as  we  get  to  the 
river,  to  have  a  bullet  put  through  my  cap.  I 
don't  think  it  will  go  through  my  head,  because  a 
man  that  is  born  to  be  hanged  won't  be  shot." 

"  I  am  willing  to  back  out  any  time  when  it  is 
not  safe  to  go  ahead.     I  have  no  fancy  whatever 


216  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

for  having  an  Austrian  bullet  go  through  even 
my  cap.  In  my  case,  however  it  may  be  with 
you,  I  am  afraid  it  would  go  through  my  head 
also." 

I  dropped  my  fishing  tackle,  and  picked  up 
an  oar,  with  which  I  pushed  the  boat  up  to  the 
bank. 

"  0,  let  her  slide  a  while  longer  !  The  French 
pickets  will  not  fire  at  us.  Just  attend  to  your 
fishing;  we  are  safe  enough  in  the  canal,"  said 
Larry,  laughing  at  my  fears. 

"  I  believe  in  backing  out  in  good  season." 

"  There  is  time  enough.  Cuore  may,  after  all, 
be  an  honest  man,  though  I  don't  know  of  any 
particular  reason  why  he  should  be  so  anxious  to 
help  us  into  Milan.  Has  he  asked  you  for  any 
money  ?  " 

"  No  ;  he  never  even  hinted  at  payment  for  any- 
thing," I  replied. 

"  If  he  means  anything,  of  course  it  is  to  make 
some  money  out  of  us ;  but  he  wouldn't  make 
anything  by  letting  the  Austrians  shoot  us,  for  I 
haven't  a  big  pile  with  me." 

I  permitted  the  boat  to  float  again  with  the 
current,  but  I  was  fully  resolved  not  to  venture 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF   A   SOLDIER.  217 

upon  the  river,  unless  the  Italian  should  give  me 
some  stronger  assurance  than  we  had  yet  received 
of  his  ability  to  protect  us.  We  had  not  yet  ex- 
amined his  pass  from  Canrobert,  but  it  was  still 
light  enough  to  do  so.  We  continued  on  our 
course  till  I  saw  the  river  ahead.  We  looked 
about  for  the  Italian,  but  he  was  not  to  be  seen. 

"  This  is  as  far  as  I  will  go,  Larry,"  I  said, 
taking  the  oar  again,  when  the  boat  was  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  river.  * 

"  I'm  with  you,  Phil." 

"  We  will  wait  here  till  Cuore  comes  back,"  I 
replied,  pushing  the  bateau  to  the  bank. 

"  Perhaps  the  fellow  has  been  arrested  himself 
—  who  knows?"  laughed  Larry. 

"  It  is  not  improbable.  He  walked  through 
several  lines  of  sentinels  on  the  strength  of  our 
uniforms." 

"  If  he  has  been  arrested,  of  course  we  don't  go 
to  Milan  to-night,"  said  Larry. 

"  Non,  messieurs ;  vous  ne  pouvez  pas  alter  d 
Milan  cette  nuit"  said  a  French  soldier,  rising 
from  the  ground,  and  pointing  his  musket  at 
my  head. 

Three  others  appeared  at  the  same  moment,  and 


218  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

imitated  the  dangerous  example  of  the  speaker, 
who  had  said,  "  No,  gentlemen,  you  cannot  go  to 
Milan  to-night." 

"  Here  we  are,  Phil,"  said  Larry,  shrugging  his 
shoulders. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       219 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

IN    WHICH    PHIL    AND   LARRY   DISCUSS   THE   SITUATION, 
AND    FACE   A   DRUM-HEAD    COURT-MARTIAL. 

kF  course  the  soldier  who  had  acted  as  spokes- 
man for  the  picket  guard  understood  Eng- 
lish, or  he  could  not  so  readily  have  understood 
Larry's  remark  about  going  to  Milan  that  night. 
The  four  men  kept  their  muskets  persistently 
pointed  at  our  heads,  as  though  they  believed  that 
gunpowder  would  not  explode,  or  with  a  reckless 
disregard  of  the  sanctity  of  human  life.  However, 
I  did  not  consider  myself  in  any  especial  peril, 
though  I  wished  they  would  point  their  guns  a 
little  lower.  I  believed  that  the  affair  was  all  a 
mistake,  which  the  appearance  of  Cuore  would 
rectify,  or  which  an  explanation  on  our  part  would 
correct. 

"  I   beg  your    pardon,  gentlemen ;    but   may  I 
trouble  you  to  land  ?  "  said  the  soldier  in  front  of 


220  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

the  others,  in  French,  and  with  genuine  French 
politeness,  albeit  it  was  utterly  hollow  and  empty. 

"  Certainly,"  I  replied.     "  You  speak  English  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  can  speak  English ;  but  I  learn  from 
the  description  of  two  spies  that  one  of  them 
speaks  French  a  little,  and  the  other  speaks  it'  very 
well.  You  are  the  one  who  speaks  it  very  well, 
I  suppose,"  laughed  the  soldier,  who  was  a  ser- 
geant. 

"  I  contrive  to  make  myself  understood,"  I  an- 
swered, as  I  stepped  on  shore,  followed  by  Larry. 

The  soldier  was  so  polite  and  considerate  that  I 
did  not  consider  the  situation  as  at  all  desperate, 
and  I  could  not  then  classify  it  as  one  of  the  strug- 
gles of  a  soldier,  though  it  assumed  a  different 
aspect  in  a  short  time. 

"  You  spoke  of  a  description,  sergeant,"  said  I, 
in  plain  English.  "  Do  I  understand  you  to  say 
that  you  have  a  description  of  my  friend  and  my- 
self?" | 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  I  must  sa}r,  that  you  answer  to 
the  description  marvellously  well.  Dressed  in 
the  uniform  of  French  officers,"  he  replied,  taking 
a  paper  from  his  pocket,  and  reading  therefrom. 
"  '  Brigade  staff.'  '  Young.'  May  I  be  allowed  to 
inquire  your  ages,  gentlemen  ?  " 


THE  STKUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       221 

"  I  am  nineteen ;  and  this  is  my  twin  friend/' 
laughed  Larry,  who  seemed  to  consider  the  affair 
as  an  excellent  joke. 

"  Thank  you,  gentlemen.  Now,  will  you  pardon 
me  if  I  ask  upon  whose  staff  you  serve  ?  " .  contin- 
ued the  sergeant,  blandly. 

"  Certainly  ;  it  will  afford  me  very  great  pleas- 
ure to  inform  you  that  we  are  attached  to  the  staff 
of  General  Eberle,  in  the  capacity  of  volunteer 
aids,"  answered  Larry. 

"Precisely  so,"  exclaimed' the  spokesman  of  the 
soldiers,  glancing  at  his  companions,  and  translat- 
ing the  reply ;  and  they  smiled,  as  though  the 
party  understood  the  matter. 

"There's  no  doubt  about  it,"  added  Larry. 
"  You  seem  to  be  amused." 

"  The  description  says  the  two  Austrian  spies 
would  claim  to  be  members  of  General  Eberle's 
staff.  Will  you  allow  me  to  look  at  your  coat?" 
continued  the  sergeant,  stepping  up  to  my  friend. 
"  And  yours?  "  he  added,  placing  his  hand  upon  my 
breast.  «  There  it  is  !  a  hole  in  the  coat  on  the 
left  breast.  I  think  that  is  sufficient.  You  are 
the  gentlemen  we  are  required  to  arrest." 

"  Probably  we  are,"  replied  Larry.     "  You  have 


222  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

had  it  all  your  own  way,  so  far.  Now  I  will  thank 
you  to  answer  some  of  our  questions.  Do  you 
know  one  Signor  Cuore,  an  Italian  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  the  honor,"  answered  the  sergeant. 

"  Have  you  seen  an  Italian  with  a  stove-pipe 
hat?"  asked  Larry,  describing  our  guide  more 
fully. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  gentlemen,"  replied  the 
polite  sergeant ;  "  but  I  am  to  obtain  information, 
and  not  give  it.  I  can  answer  no  questions.  It  is 
my  duty  to  escort  you  to  the  headquarters  of  our 
brigade." 

"  Right,  sergeant ;  do  your  duty  like  a  man,  and 
stand  by  United  Italy  to  the  end ;  but  you  have 
made  a  mistake,"  continued  my  friend. 

"  Not  possible,  gentlemen.  You  answer  the  de- 
scription perfectly." 

"  Where  did  you  obtain  the  description?"  I  in- 
quired, with  great  simplicity. 

The  sergeant  only  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and 
made  no  reply.  He  even  laughed  at  the  folly  of 
the  question  I  proposed. 

"  What  do  you  take  us  to  be  ?  "  I  demanded. 

"  Pardon,  gentlemen,  but  we  take  you  to  be 
spies,  in  the   employ  of  the    Austrians,   on  your 


THE  STEUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       223 

way  to  Milan,  to  inform  the  Austrian  of  the  num- 
ber and  position  of  the  French  and  Italian  troops/7 
replied  the  sergeant,  in  French. 

"  What  does  he  say,  Phil?  " 

I  told  my  friend  what  the  sergeant  said  ;  and 
certainly  it  was  a  very  grave  charge,  considering 
that  we  were  on  the  dividing  line  between  the 
hostile  armies,  and  on  the  eve  of  a  great  battle. 

"  Are  you  not  satisfied,  gentlemen  ?  "  inquired 
the  bland  sergeant. 

"  No,  sir  ;  we  are  not.  We  are  what  we  claim  to 
be  —  volunteer  aids  on  the  staff  of  General  Eberle. 
You  are  making  a  mistake  in  arresting  us." 

"  There  is  another  point  in  the  description ;  and 
since  you  are  not  satisfied,  we  will  proceed  a  little 
farther.  I  judged  from  your  conversation  that 
you  intended  to  go  to  Milan." 

"  Have  you  seen  Cuore  ?  "  asked  Larry. 

"  I  answer  no  questions.  Will  the  gentlemen 
oblige  me  by  showing  their  papers  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure.  I  am  willing  to  show  all  my 
papers ;  but  I  have  nothing  except  some  old  let- 
ters, and  a  letter  of  credit,"  answered  Larry ;  and 
he  emptied  his  pockets. 

I  produced  the  contents  of  my  pockets,  and  the 


224  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

sergeant  proceeded  to  examine  my  diary,  which 
contained  pockets  wherein  I  kept  my  papers. 
One  after  another  he  opened  them,  and  finally 
came  to  one  on  which  the  porter  of  the  hotel  in 
Nice  had  written  the  address  of  my  mother's 
Italian  friend  and  host  at  Milan. 

"  Signor  Bertani,  Corso  de  JBosinare,  No.  21," 
continued  the  sergeant,  reading  the  paper.  "  Do 
you  know  the  gentleman  whose  address  you  have  ?  " 

"  I  do  not,"  I  answered. 

"  Did  you  intend  to  visit  him  in  Milan  ?  " 

"I  did." 

"  And,  of  course,  you  know  that  he  is  a  traitor  to 
his  country,  and  a  friend  of  the  Austrians  ?  "  added 
the  sergeant,  rather  warmly. 

"  I  have  been  told  so  ;  but  I  have  nothing  to  do 
with  his  politics.  I  expect  to  find  my  mother  at 
his  house  in  Milan." 

"Oui,  oui,  oui —  oui — oui,"  said  the  soldier, 
shrugging  his  shoulders  and  laughing,  as  though 
he  did  not  put  implicit  confidence  in  the  truth  of 
my  statement. 

"  I  must  escort  you  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
general  of  brigade." 

"  Before  you  hang  us,  you  will  oblige  us  very 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  225 

much  by  sending  for  General  EberleY'  said  Larry, 
lightly. 

"  We  do  not  hang  you.  You  shall  die  like  sol- 
diers—  by  the  bullet,  and  not  by  the  rope.  It 
takes  too  long  to  hang  men." 

"  I  say,  Phil,  he  takes  a  cheerful  view  of  the  sub- 
ject—  don't  he  ?"  said  Larry,  turning  to  me. 

"  I  am  afraid  the  situation  is  more  serious  than 
you  seem  to  think  it  is,"  I  suggested. 

"  How  can  it  be  serious?  We  can  send  for  Gen- 
eral Eberle,  and  he  will  make  it  all  right  in  an  in- 
staut." 

"  Perhaps  they  won't  take  the  trouble  to  send 
for  him.  These  French  officers  have  an  ugly  habit 
of  catching  a  spy  and  hanging  him  without  much 
formalit}7-,"  I  replied.  "  Of  course  you  know  what 
a  drum-head  court-martial  is." 

"  I  do." 

"I  have  heard  a  French  officer  say  that  ten 
minutes  was  time  enough  for  both  trial  and  exe- 
cution." 

"  That  would  be  no  joke." 

We  walked  along,  side  by  side,  with  the  soldiers 
around  us  in  such  a  way  that  there  was  no  chance 
to  escape.  We  were  conducted  first  to  a  lieu- 
15  ' 


226  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

tenant,  who  promptly  ordered  us  to  be  taken  to 
headquarters. 

"  I  am  afraid  we  are  in  a  bad  scrape,  Larry,"  I 
said,  as  we  marched  over  the  unoccupied  land. 

"  I  don't  think  so.  I  tell  you  we  are  not  to  be 
hanged  or  shot  without  a  hearing  of  some  kind." 

"  I  doubt  whether  they  will  take  the  trouble  to 
inform  our  general  of  their  actions." 

"  These  men  are  very  polite  and  considerate." 

"  But  they  will  hang  or  shoot  you  just  as  quick, 
for  all  that.  The  man  that  cuts  your  throat  will 
do  it  very  politely ;  but  he  will  do  it  none  the  less. 
I  can't  say  that  I  blame  these  men.  The  case  looks 
very  strong  against  us.  The  sergeant  heard  you 
say  that  we  intended  to  go  to  Milan,  and  he  found 
the  address  of  a  traitorous  Italian  upon  me.  We 
were  in  a  boat,  headed  towards  the  Austrian  lines 
also." 

"  Yet  the  simple  truth  will  show  that  we  are  not 
Austrians,  or  in  their  employ." 

"  Yes ;  if  we  can  persuade  them  to  believe  the 
simple  truth,  which  may  be  a  very  difficult  matter." 

"  By  the  way,  Phil,  what  is  your  opinion  of  Signor 
Cuore  ?  " 

"  I  presume  we  shall  not  differ  in  opinion  just 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP  A   SOLDIER.  227 

now.  But  I  cannot  comprehend  what  the  rascal's 
object  is.  Why  should  he  get  us  into  such  a  scrape 
as  this  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  I  should  like,  to  be  intro- 
duced to  Signor  Cuore  just  now,"  added  Larry, 
with  emphasis. 

"  Very  likely  he  will  appear  against  us." 

"  I  don't  believe  he  will.  He  evidently  means 
to  have  us  shot,  and  that  our  case  shall  be  finished 
in  short  metre.  Since  he  insisted  upon  my  going 
to  Milan,  when  I  had  not  the  least  desire  to  go  at 
present,  I  conclude  that  he  particularly  desires  that 
I  should  be  shot." 

"  Possibly  he  is  impartial,  and  only  desires  to 
have  us  served  alike." 

"  The  villain  started  us  in  that  boat  alone,  in  order 
to  bring  about  just  what  has  happened  to  us^" 

"  Undoubtedly  he  laid  his  plans  very  carefully. 
I  would  give  something  handsome  to  know  what 
his  motives  are.  I  have  no  enemies  that  I  know 
of  in  this  part  of  the  world." 

"  Are  you  not  mfxed  up  with  those  Collingsbys, 
your  mother's  brothers,  and  your  gi-andfather, 
too?" 

"  I  don't  think  they  have  any  ill-will  towards 


228  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,    OR 

me,"  I  answered,  giving  an  earnest  thought  to  the 
subject. 

"  But,  according  to  your  own  story,  Phil,  they 
believe  that  you  are  an  impostor,  trying  to  impose 
upon  the  credulity  of  Mrs.  Farringford,  a  member 
of  their  family.  Perhaps  they  are  afraid  that  you 
will  succeed  in  making  that  lady  believe  you  are 
really  her  son.  They  hate  your  father,  and  don't 
choose  to  have  anything  to  do  with  him.  Isn't  it 
likely  that  they  have  employed  Signor  Cuore  to 
get  rid  of  you  in  his  mild  and  pleasant  manner, 
that  is  to  say,  in  having  you  hanged  or  shot  as  a 
spy?" 

"  It  is  possible  ;  but  the  Co.llingsbys  are  very 
respectable  people,  to  say  the  least,  and. I  am  not 
willing  to  believe  that  they  would  resort  to  such 
an  infamous  expedient." 

"  I  don't  know,  Phil.  They  are  respectable,  as 
you  say,  and  they  wish  to  keep  respectable.  They 
believe  that  the  Farringford  blood  is  not  respec- 
table, and  they  wish  to  keep  it  at  a  safe  distance. 
That's  what's  the  matter,  Phil." 

"  I  cannot  believe  it." 

"  Your  mother  must  have  heard  something  about 
you  before  this  time.     All  the  Chicago  Collingsbys 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       229 

know  all  about  you,  even  to  Miss  Marion ;  and  you 
may  depend  upon  it,  some  of  them  have  given  her 
a  hint  before  this  time.  As  she  must  be  more 
interested  in  the  subject  than  any  of  tbe  rest  of 
them,  she  may  have  manifested  a  desire  to  inquire 
into  the  matter,  which  her  brothers  do  not  like. 
Of  course  they  knew  that  you  were  on  your  way 
to  Europe,  to  find  your  mother." 

"  I  don't  see  how  they  should  know  it,"  I  added. 

"  They  must  know  it.  Didn't  you  get  a  letter  in 
Paris  from  Miss  Marian  Collingsby  ?  " 

"  I  did  ;  but  her  father  will  not  permit  her  even 
to  speak  of  this  subject  to  him." 

"  You  are  as  simple-minded  as  an  infant,  Phil ! 
Marian  told  her  mother  all  about  it ;  and  she  told 
■the  old  man,  who,  while  he  pretended  to  care 
nothing  at  all  about  it,  kept  up  a  tremendous 
thinking,  and  privately  wrote  to  his  agents  in 
London  to  look  after  you,  and  not  let  you  see  Mrs. 
Farringford  on  any  account  whatever.  Then  the 
London  agent  employed  this  Cuore,  who  was  on 
the  train  with  us  to  Paris,  and  has  not  lost  sight  of 
us  since.  I  tell  you,  Phil,  that  little  scene  in  the 
garden  of  the  Tuileries  was  got  up  by  him  merely 
to  make  our  acquaintance,  and  secure  our  confi- 


230  BiyOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

dence  by  doing  us  a  favor.  It  is  just  as  clear  as 
dock  mud  to  me,  Phil." 

"  I  don't  say  that  you  are  wrong,  Larry ;  but  if 
your  theory  is  correct,  why  was  the  villain  so 
particular  that  you  should  go  to  Milan,  and  be 
sacrificed  with  me  ?  " 

"  That  may  look  like  a  stumper  to  you,  but  I  can 
explain  it  to  my  own  satisfaction.  This  fellow 
knows  that  I  am  a  particular  friend  of  yours,  and 
he  knows  very  well,  if  you  disappeared,  that  I 
should  find  you  if  I  had  to  explore  the  continent  to 
do  so.  He  knows  very  well  that  I  should  find  him, 
too.  I  think  the  villain  understands  me  first  rate, 
and  believes  that  it  would  not  be  a  prudent  step  to 
separate  us.     I'm  right,  Phil." 

"  I  don't  know  that  it  makes  much  difference 
whether  you  are  right  or  wrong,  now,  Larry.  We 
are  in  a  bad  scrape." 

"  But  we  shall  get  out  of  it,  and  give  Cuore  a 
chance  to  try  the  game  over  again.  I  should  like 
to  put  my  paws  upon  him." 

"  He  will  keep  out  of  the  way  as  long  as  he  can. 
Here  is  the  line  of  the  camps,  and  we  shall  soon 
know  what  is  to  become  of  us." 

We  were  conducted  to  the  headquarters  of  the 


THE    STEUGGLES    OF   A    SOLDIER.  ^31 

general  of  brigade,  where  the  sergeant  reported 
his  prisoners,  and  asked  for  orders.  After  waiting 
half  an  hour,  several  officers  appeared,  but  there 
was  no  general  of  brigade  among  tbem.  They 
seated  themselves  on  camp-stools,  and  strangely 
enough,  a  drum  lay  on  the  ground  near  them, 
though  I  am  sure  it  had  not  been  placed  there 
with  any  reference  to  the  present  proceedings.  It 
was  an  ominous  emblem  to  me,  and  I  did  not  like 
the  appearance  of  it.  I  was  unable  to  determine 
whether  the  officers  before  us  constituted  a  court- 
martial  or  not,  for  I  could  not  hear  any  of  the  pro- 
ceedings. Larry  was  called  up  first,  and  one  of 
the  officers  proceeded  to  question  him  in  French. 
He  could  not  even  understand  the  questions  that 
were  put  to  him.  Then  one  of  them  addressed 
him  in  German ;  and  Larry  answered,  '■  Nix." 
The  sergeant  suggested  that  the  other  prisoner 
spoke  French,  and  I  was  called  up. 

It  appeared  that  the  sergeant  and  his  fellow- 
soldiers  had  already  told  their  "story,  and  that  we 
were  really  condemned  already.  I  was  asked  to 
explain  my  relations  with  Signor  Bertani,  and  how 
I  happened  to  be  on  my  way  to  Milan  in  the 
uniform  of  a  French  officer.     Before  I  said  any- 


23^  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

thing,  I  produced  my  passport,  which  I  had 
stitched  into  my  coat  for  safety. 

"  You  are  an  American  ? "  said  one  of  the 
officers,  exhibiting  much  surprise,  as  he  examined 
this  important  paper. 

11 1  am." 

"  Good  on  your  head,  Phil !  You  have  hit  the 
nail  in  the  right  place  this  time,"  exclaimed  Larry. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP  A  SOLDIER.  233 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

IN  WHICH  PHIL  AND  LARRY   ARE  SAVED  FROM  A  HARD 
FATE    BY    A    MOVEMENT    OF   THE    BRIGADE. 

F  you  are  an  American,  how  do  you  happen 
to  be  in  the  army  of  France  ?  "  asked  the 
officer,  who  appeared  to  be  the  highest  in  rank, 
and  who  was  doubtless  the  president  of  the  court- 
martial,  if  it  was  such. 

"  We  are  both  volunteer  aids-de-camp,  on  the 
staff  of  General  Eberle,"  I  replied. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  added  the  officer,  glancing  at 
his  companions. 

They  looked  at  one  another,  and  then  examined 
my  passport  again,  whose  signature  and  broad 
seal  could  not  be  ignored.  Then  they  began  to 
puzzle  themselves  over  the  personal  description, 
and  I  saw  that  one  of  them  could  read  English. 
The  comparison  could  not  but  be  satisfactory,  for 
the  shape  of  my  chin  and  the  color  of  my  e}Tes 
were  correctly  given,  as  well  as  the  other  details. 


234  BIVOUAC  AND  BATTLE,   OR 

"  Is  your  friend  an  American  also  ?  "  asked  the 
officer. 

"  He  was  born  in  England,  but  has  lived  in 
America  from  his  childhood,"  I  answered,  believ- 
ing that  the  simple  truth  is  always  better  than 
falsehood  and  deception. 

One  of  the  officers  walked  up  to  Larry,  and 
spoke  to  him  in  German ;  but  of  course  neither  he 
nor  I  understood  a  word  that  was  said. 

"Nix,"  replied  Larry,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

The  speaker  then  explained  that  he  had  told  my 
friend  he  might  depart  in  peace.  Such  a  permis- 
sion, if  he  had  understood  it,  would  have  surprised 
him  into  a  word  or  a  look  that  might  have  be- 
trayed him ;  but  Larry  made  no  sign  that  could 
excite  a  suspicion. 

"  Has  your  friend  a  passport  ?  "  asked  the  chief 
officer,  turning  to  me  again. 

"  He  has  not,"  I  replied.  "  He  left  New  York 
rather  suddenly,  and  did  not  think  to  procure  a 
passport,  as  one  has  but  little  need  of  it  now." 

"  But  you  were  going  to  Milan  ?  "  said  the  offi- 
cer, returning  to  the  suspicious  side  of  the  ques- 
tion. 

"  I  wished  to  go  to  Milan  because  my  mother  is 
there." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       235 

The  military  gentleman  shrugged  his  shoulders, 
and  was  evidently  incredulous. 

"  And  you  have  the  address  of  Signor  Bertani, 
who  is  an  Italian,  but  in  the  employ  of  the  Aus- 
trians.     No,  no,  no  !  " 

"  My  mother  is  his  guest/'  I  added. 

"  No,  no  ! " 

"  I  speak  only  the  truth." 

"  Humph  —  possibly." 

"  We  have  already  declared  that  we  were  at- 
tached to  the  staff  of  General  Eberle.  If  you 
have  any  doubt  in  regard  to  the  truth  of  what  we 
say,  you  can  refer  to  that  distinguished  officer,"  I 
suggested. 

"  General  Eberle"  is  seven  or  eight  kilometres 
distant.  You  refer  to  some  one  who  is  conven- 
iently removed  from  us.  We  make  short  work 
with  spies,"  continued  the  officer.  "  We  may  be 
ordered  to  march  in  half  an  hour,  and  we  have  no 
time  to  waste  upon  persons  taken  in  the  very  act 
of  entering  the  enemy's  lines.  We  have  good  evi- 
dence that  you  are  spies." 

"  You  refer  to  Signor  Cuore,  who  is  a  spy  him- 
self," I  answered,  with  some  spirit.  "  He  has  a 
pass  in  German  for  three  persons  to  go  through 
the  Austrian  lines." 


236  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

The  officers  looked  at  each  other  and  smiled. 

"  For  two  persons,"  said  the  officer,  correcting 
me. 

"  He  told  us  it  was  for  three.  Neither  of  us  can 
speak  or  read  German." 

"  Here  is  the  pass,"  added  the  speaker,  taking 
from  his  pocket  the  paper  which  Cuore  had  exhib- 
ited, and  showing  it  to  me. 

Giving  the  pass  to  the  gentleman  who  read  and 
spoke  German,  he  desired  him  to  translate  it  to 
us.  He  gave  me  the  contents  of  the  paper  in 
French.  It  was  an  order  requiring  picket  guards 
and  sentinels  to  pass  Philip  Farringford  and  Law- 
rence Grimsby  through  the  Austrian  lines,  and  to 
give  them  every  facility  for  reaching  the  general 
in  command  at  Milan.  I  told  Larry  in  English 
what  the  pass  was,  and  we  both  understood  why 
Cuore  had  declined  to  have  the  Swiss  orderly  read 
it.  Of  course  the  paper  was  a  forgery ;  but  we 
were  utterly  incapable  of  fathoming  the  ultimate 
purpose  of  Cuore  in  leading  us  into  this  trap.  As 
the  officer  seemed  to  be  very  patient,  in  spite  of 
his  declaration  that  he  had  no  time  to  waste  upon 
such  persons  as  we  appeared  to  be,  I  began  to  ex- 
plain our  relations  with   General  Eberle   and  with 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  237 

Cuore.  The  party  listened  attentively,  and  per- 
mitted me  to  finish  my  narrative.  I  doubt  not  I 
made  some  blunders  in  the  use  of  the  French  lan- 
guage, for  several  times  I  was  called  upon  to  re- 
peat what  I  had  said.  When  I  had  concluded  my 
story,  there  was  a  general  shrugging  of  shoulders, 
and  a  general  smile  of  incredulity. 

It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and  the  officers,  after 
consulting  together  for  a  moment,  seated  them- 
selves on  camp-stools  around  the  drum  which  I 
had  before  observed.  Larry  and  myself  were 
ordered  to  stand  at  an  opening  in  the  ring  oppo- 
site the  officer  who  had  questioned  us.  I  con- 
cluded that  the  formal  proceedings  were  about  to 
commence. 

"  It  looks  serious,  Larry,"  I  said. 

"  That's  so ;  but  you  mustn't  give  it  up,  Phil. 
Make  a  spread-eagle  speech.  If  I  could  speak  the 
language,  I  would  do  so.  Shake  your  passport  at 
them." 

"  I  am  afraid  it  will  do  no  good." 

"  Try  it,  and  see.  I  have  no  idea  of  being  shot 
in  this  way  by  these  frog-eaters,  when  I  sxand 
ready  to  fight  for  them.  It  isn't  giving  a  fellow  a 
fair  show." 


238  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  Have  you  anything  to  say  why  you  should 
not  be  shot  as  spies  ?  "  said  the  president  of  the 
court-martial. 

"  We  demand  a  fair  trial,"  I  replied.  "  We  are 
Americans,  and  we  are  in  the  service  of  France, 
ready  to  fight  her  battles.  We  are  not  spies,  and 
we  ask  for  the  advice  and  assistance  of  the  nearest 
representative  of  the  United  States  government. 
We  also  demand  the  privilege  of  confronting  our 
accuser.     He  is  a  villain  and  a  liar." 

I  spoke  with  energy ;  and,  adopting  the  sugges- 
tion of  Larry,  I  flourished  my  passport  with  vigor 
in  the  face  of  the  presiding  officer. 

"  You  wish  to  see  Signor  Cuore  ?  "  added  the 
president. 

"  We  do." 

"  Bring  Signor  Cuore." 

The  proceedings  were  suspended ;  but  some 
time  elapsed  before  the  Italian  was  produced.  I 
saw  by  his  actions  that  he  came  very  unwillingly. 
He  was  placed  by  the  side  of  the  drum  in  the 
centre  of  the  circle,  and  required  to  state  what  he 
knew  about  us.  He  declared  that  he  had  followed 
us  from  Paris,  where  he  had  seen  us  in  commu- 
nication with  several  Austrians,  and  that   he  had 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  239 

watched  us  up  to  the  moment  we  had  attempted 
to  pass  the  river,  when  he  deemed  it  his  duty  to 
inform  the  picket-guard  of  our  intentions,  which 
he  had  done. 

"  Where  did  you  get  the  pass  which  you  allege 
is  ours  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  found  it  where  you  lost,  it,"  replied  Cuore, 
chuckling  as  though  he  had  done  a  clever  thing. 

"  Where  did  you  find  it  ? "  I  demanded,  en- 
ergetically. 

"  You  dropped  it  when  you  pulled  out  your 
handkerchief." 

"  You  do  not  say  where  you  found  it." 

"  On  the  bank  of  the  canal,  before  you  got  into 
the  boat." 

"  Were  you  with  us  at  the  time  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  was  behind  you." 

"  But  not  in  company  with  us  ?  " 

"  No,  certainly  not." 

"  Were  you  at  the  camp  of  General  Eberle" 
with  us  ?  " 

"  No ;  never." 

"  Did  you  not  come  down  from  the  camp  of 
General  Eberle*  to  the  canal  ?  " 

"  I  did  not." 


240  -  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  All  right,  my  boy !  If  the  Evil  One  should 
look  for  a  liar,  where  in  all  Italy  could  we  put 
you  ? "  added  Larry,  who  had  listened  attentive- 
ly to  the  conversation,  which  was  carried  on  in 
English. 

"  He  would  take  you,  and  not  look  any  farther," 
replied  Cuore. 

"  What  are  you  saying  ?  "  demanded  the  pres- 
ident, impatiently,  for  he  did  not  understand 
English. 

I  related  the  substance  of  the  conversation 
in  French,  and  Cuore  indorsed  my  version  as 
correct. 

"  Now,  Monsieur  le  Chef  de  Bataillon"  I  con- 
tinued, guessing  at  the  rank  of  the  officer,  "  this 
man  says  he  was  not  with  us  at  the  camp  of 
General  Eberle,  or  at  any  other  time." 

'•  Certainly  not,"  added  Cuore. 

"  If  you  would  do  me  the  favor  to  send  for  the 
officer  of  the  guard  at  the  next  post,  he  will  tell 
you  that  we  passed  this  Italian  through  his  lines." 

"  He  only  wants  to  gain  time,"  replied  Cuore, 
with  one  of  his  politest  bows. 

"  I  have  not  time  to  send  to  any  post." 

"  Will  you  condemn  two  innocent  men  —  Ameri- 
cans ?  "  I  pleaded. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP  A  SOLDIER.  241 

"  The  evidence  is  very  full  and  satisfactory." 

"  But  this  man  is  a  liar.  He  showed  this  pass 
at  the  camp  of  our  general." 

"  No.  All  that  he  said  proves  to  be  true.  We 
found  the  address  of  Signor  Bertani  upon  you.  If 
you  are  in  the  French  service,  you  are  deserters ; 
if  not,  you  are  spies,  for  you  were  trying  to  pass 
our  lines,  and  spoke  of  going  to.  Milan,  but  not  to- 
night. It  is  a  plain  case.  Gentlemen,  give  me 
your  attention,"  said  the  officer,  addressing  his 
companions. 

Just  at  this  moment  the  tap  of  a  drum  and  the 
heavy  tramp  of  a  considerable  body  of  men  were 
heard  in  the  area  between  the  line  and  the  river. 
They  attracted  the  attention" of  all  the  party.  An 
officer  with  hasty  step  walked  up  to  the  members 
of  the  court-martial,  and  asked  for  the  general  of 
brigade  in  command. 

"  Good  !  Monsieur  Foucault !  "  shouted  Larry, 
at  the  top  of  his  lungs. 

"  Ah,  Monsieur  Grimsby  !  "  exclaimed  the  officer, 
walking  up  to  my  friend  and  grasping  his  hand. 

"  Where  is  General  Eberle  ?  "  asked  Larry. 

"  Our  brigade  is  ordered  to  bivouac  here,  near 
the  river.  Give  us  joy  !  We  shall  be  in  the  fight. 
16 


242  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

But,  pardon,  I  have  an  order  to  deliver  to  the 
general  of  brigade  at  this  point." 

"  Pardon,  also.  We  are  in  trouble,  and  if  you 
don't  get  us  out  of  the  scrape,  we  shall  be  shot  as 
spies  in  five  minutes  more." 

"  Impossible  !  " 

"  Fact,  my  boy  !  Speak  a  good  word  for  us,  and 
it  will  be  all  right." 

"  Messieurs,  these  gentlemen  are  my  comrades 
on  the  staff  of  General  Eberle." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  exclaimed  the  principal  officer, 
as  though  it  was  an  entirely  new  idea  to  him. 

"  You  can  bet  high  on  it,"  added  Larry,  whose 
French  ear  was  improving  wonderfully. 

Suddenly  my  friend  sprang  away  from  me,  and  I 
saw  him  pounce  upon  the  lying  Italian,  who,  seeing 
that  the  current  had  turned  in  our  favor,  was  trying 
to  sneak  away. 

"  No,  you  don't,  my  fair  child  of  Italy  !  "  cried 
Larry,  as  he  dragged  Cuore  into  the  ring.  "  You 
have  got  up  a  little  entertainment  here  for  some- 
body, and  you  must  stay  and  face  the  music." 

"  You  will  oblige  me  by  detaining  that  man," 
said  Lieutenant  Foucault.  "  He  has  been  hanging 
around  our  camp  for  several  days*-    These  gentle- 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  243 

men  are  particular  friends  of  our  chef  de  brigade, 
and  any  favor  accorded  to  thern  will  be  a  service 
•rendered  to  him." 

"  Arrest  the  Italian  !  "  said  the  president  to  the 
men  who  had  guarded  Larry  and  myself. 

In  a  moment  Cuore  had  a  soldier  on  each  side 
of  him. 

"  Je  demande  pardon,"  continued  the  officer,  ex- 
tending his  hand  to  me.  "  I  have  made  a  great 
mistake." 

"I  think  you  are  rather  summary  in  your  pro- 
ceedings ;  for,  if  I  understand  the  situation,  you 
were  about  to  sentence  us  to  be  shot." 

"  But  the  proof  was  very  strong,"  pleaded  he. 

"  There  was  no  evidence  that  we  were  spies ; 
and  you  refused  to  inform  General  Eberle  of  our 
situation.  But  you  were  only  too  zealous  in  the 
discharge  of  your  duty,"  I  replied. 

The  aid  found  the  general  of  the  brigade,  and 
delivered  his  message.  Several  officers  congrat- 
ulated us  upon  our  fortunate  escape,  and  we  were 
permitted  to  depart.  But  we  were  not  ready  yet 
to  go.  Larry  insisted  that  he  had  "  a  bone  to  pick  " 
with  Cuore.  It  was  plainly  the  purpose  of  this 
man  to  sacrifice  us.     He  wanted  our  lives,  and  had 


244  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

actually  laid  a  snare,  by  which  we  were  to  be  shot 
as  spies.  I  could  not  fathom  his  purpose  ;  and 
Larry  was  equally  unable  to  do  so. 

"  Will  you  go  with  me  to  headquarters  ?  "  asked. 
Foucault,  when  he  had  delivered  his  message. 

"  Not  yet,"  replied  Larry,  "  unless  you  can  take 
this  Italian  with  you." 

"  Very  likely  I  can." 

u  He  arrived  in  the  camp  from  Milan  this  morn- 
ing, and  if  there  are  any  spies  around  here,  in  my 
opinion  he  is  one  of  them.  General  Eberle"  would 
have  ordered  his  arrest  this  morning  if  he  had  not 
considered  him  our  friend." 

"  I  will  speak  with  the  chef  de  bataillon"  replied 
the  aid,  walking  towards  that  officer. 

A  short  consultation  resulted  in  an  order  for  the 
soldiers  to  conduct  Cuore  to  the  headquarters  of 
General  Eberle.  We  followed  him,  and  found  our 
brigade  quartered  not  far  from  the  canal  where  we 
had  been  arrested.  The  general  had  just  completed 
the  disposition  of  his  force  when  we  arrived.  He 
gazed  at  us  with  astonishment,  and  with  no  less 
surprise  at  Cuore  under  guard.  As  briefly  as  pos- 
sible we  told  him  what  had  occurred. 

"  The  man  is  a  villain  !  "  exclaimed  the  general. 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF    A   SOLDIER.  245 

"  Italy's  skies  never  glowed  over  a  greater  vil- 
lain ! "  added  Larry. 

"  Why  does  he  seek  your  lives  ?  " 

"  No  Italian  sage  is  wise  enough  to  know.  Be- 
ing Yankees,  we  can  guess  ;  being  philosophers,  — 
a  least,  Phil  is  philosophical,  —  we  desire  to  in- 
vestigate." 

"  I  shall  hold  him  as  a  spy,  for  he  says  he  came 
from  Milan,  and  is  a  native  of  that  city,"  replied 
General  Eberle,  readily  comprehending  our  wishes. 
"  We  will  have  him  searched,  and  you  shall  ex- 
amine his  papers,  if  you  wish." 

"  We  do  wish  ;  but  first,  we  should  like  to  ques- 
tion him,"  replied  Phil. 

We  seated  ourselves  upon  camp-stools,  and  the 
guards  were  ordered  to  bring  up  the  culprit. 


346  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

IN  WHICH    PHIL    AND    LARRY   SOLVE   A   PROBLEM,   AND 
THE   ITALIAN   MAKES   A   BAD   MOVE. 

DON'T  understand  it  at  all,"  said  I,  while  we 
were  waiting  for  the  guards  to  bring  up  the 
prisoner.  "  I  can't  fathom  the  motives  of  this  mis- 
erable Italian  ;  and  the  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more 
confused  I  become." 

"  My  brains  are  all  boggled  up  over  the  matter," 
added  Larry ;  "  but  the  only  thing  I  can  make  of 
it  is,  that  he  is  an  agent  of  those  Farringfords,  of 
Chicago.  You  are  a  good-looking  fellow,  Phil,  but 
they  evidently  don't  mean  to  have  you  come  into 
their  family." 

"  Possibly  he  is  what  you  say,"  I  replied,  musing 
again  on  the  subject,  though  I  thought  the  Far- 
ringfords were  altogether  too  dignified  to  resort  to 
such  trickery. 

"  What  can  we  do  with  this  fellow,  general  ?  " 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       247 

asked  Larry,  appealing  to  our  powerful  military 
friend. 

"  Do  anything  what  you  please  with  ze  man," 
replied  the  general.  "  He  have  said  he  has  been 
in  Milan.    I  take  him  for  a  spy  from  ze  Austrians." 

"  You  have  him  on  the  hip,  then,"  laughed  my 
friend. 

"  On  ze  hip  ?  " 

"  Where  the  hair  is  short." 

"Ze  hair?" 

"  In  a  tight  place,  I  mean." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  asked  the  bewildered  French- 
man. 

"  No  gentleman  ought  to  be  expected  to  under- 
stand such  slang,"  I  interposed. 

"  I  have  thought  I  know  ze  English  language," 
added  the  general,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"  But  these  are  idioms,"  laughed  Larry. 

"  No,  they  are  not ;  they  are  only  slang  expres- 
sions. My  friend  means  that  you  have  the  advan- 
tage of  this  Italian,"  I  explained. 

"  I  have  ze  advantage  ?  " 

u  Why  don't  you  speak  English  to  him,  Phil  ? 
'  On  the  hip '  is  a  clearer  expression  than  having 
the  advantage.     At  any  rate,  you  have  the  advan- 


248  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,    OR 

tage  of  the  general,  for  he  don't  know  what  you 
mean  any  better  than  he  did  what  I  meant." 

"  He  intended  to  say  that  you  have  Cuore  where 
you  can  do  as  you  please  with  him,"  I  added  to 
the  general. 

"  Oui,  oui,  oui —  oui  —  oui ! "  exclaimed  the  gen- 
eral, after  the  manner  of  his  countrymen  when  an 
obscure  idea  becomes  plain  to  them.  "  I  can  put 
him  on  ze  hip,  with  a  handkerchief  over  his  eyes, 
with  a  file  of  soldiers  before  him,  who  shall  fire  at 
him  till  he  die." 

"  Don't  do  that  just  yet,  general,  if  you  please," 
interposed  Larry.  "  That  would  be  putting  him  on 
the  hip  rather  too  much." 

"  I  shall  do  what  you  wish.  You  are  ze  court- 
martial.  You  shall  try  ze  prisoner.  You  shall  say 
if  he  is  guilty  or  not  guilty ;  and  you  shall  say  if 
he  shall  be  shot,  if  he  shall  be  hanged,  if  he  shall 
live.  He  have  come,"  said  General  Eberle",  as  the 
soldiers  appeared,  conducting  the  prisoner  into 
our  presence. 

"  This  way,  my  brave  son  of  United  Italy," 
shouted  Larry;  and  the  soldiers  brought  the 
Italian  to  the  place  where  we  were  seated. 

"  You   have    sent   for   me,  and   I    have   come," 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  249 

said  Cuore,  trjTing  to  put  a  bold  face  upon  the 
matter. 

"  You  stole  that  remark  from  a  play ;  it  is  no 
more  original  than  your  rascality.  Are  you  going 
to  Milan  to-night,  as  you  promised,  Signor  Cuore?" 

"  I  am  not  in  condition  to  go  now,"  replied  lie, 
glancing  at  his  guards. 

"  It  seems  you  had  no  intention  of  going  to 
Milan.     When  were  you  there  last  ?  " 

Cuore  looked  at  the  general,  and  then  at  Larry, 
and  evidently  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  answer 
this  question. 

"  You  have  said  you  were  in  Milan  last  night," 
added  the  general,  sternly. 

"  I  was  not  there  last  night,"  answered  Cuore. 

"  You  have  lied,  then.  These  gentlemen  have 
said  what  you  told  them.  I  shall  take  ze  word  of 
ze  gentlemen.     I  shall  treat  you  like  a  spy." 

"  I  am  not  a  spy,  general,"  protested  the-  Italian, 
startled  by  this  declaration. 

"  You  said  you  were  in  the  secret  service. .  Who 
employs  you  ?  "  asked  General  Eberle.  in  French. 

"  I  am  in  the  service  of  the  police  department/' 
answered  Cuore. 

"  Have  you  been  in  Milan  ?  " 


250  BIVOUAC   AND  BATTLE,   OR 

"  No,  general." 

"  What  is  your  business  with  these  gentlemen?  " 

"  I  only  desire  to  assist  them." 

"  And  for  that  reason  you  denounced  us  as 
spies,"  I  interposed. 

"  That  was  your  own  fault,"  replied  the  villain, 
coolly.  "  I  only  desired  to  serve  you ;  and  I 
expected,  when  I  had  taken  you  to  your  mother, 
that  you  would  reward  me  handsomely  for  my 
trouble.  That  is  the  whole  of  it.  I  was  only 
anxious  to  make  some  money." 

"  Did  you  expect  to  make  any  money  by  de- 
nouncing us  as  spies  ?  "  I  demanded  in  English, 
for  the  accommodation  of  Larry. 

"  You  denounced  yourselves.  You  were  foolish 
enough  to  talk  about  going  to  Milan  while  you 
were  in  the  boat,  which  was  the  same  thing  as 
telling  the  soldiers  on  picket  that  you  intended  to 
go  there." 

"  Why  didn't  you  return  to  us,  as  you  prom- 
ised ?  "  asked  Larry. 

"  I  could  not.  The  soldiers  arrested  me.  I  told 
them  you  were  officers,  fishing ;  and  if  you  had  not 
spoken  of  going  to  Milan,  it  would  have  been  all 
right.     After   you    were    arrested,  I  was  obliged 


THE  STEUGGLES   OP  A   SOLDIER.  251 

to  tell  the  whole  truth,  or  I  should  have  been  shot 
at  once." 

"  Liar  that  thou  art !  "  cried  Larry.  "  When  did 
you  write  that  German  pass  ?  " 

The  scoundrel  had  evidently  forgotten  about 
the  pass,  which  fully  proved  that  he  had  prepared 
his  plan  for  sacrificing  us  long  before  we  left 
the  camp. 

We  all  questioned  him  for  some  time,  and  the 
more  he  said  the  deeper  he  involved  himself  in  the 
tangle  of  falsehood  and  deceit. 

"  Cuore,  this  is  all  bosh,"  said  Larry,  when  our 
patience  was  exhausted.  "  We  are  satisfied  that 
you  are  here  for  a  purpose,  and  that  your  purpose 
is  to  make  an  end  of  Phil  and  myself." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,  gentlemen.  You  wrong 
me.  I  have  been  your  friend.  I  have  done  all  I 
could  to  serve  you.  I  saved  you  from  the  police 
in  Paris,  I  assisted  you  in  the  steamers,  and  have 
done  everything  to  aid  you.  You  could  not  have 
reached  Italy  without  my  help." 

"  But  you  brought  us  here  to  have  us  shot 
by  order  of  a  court-martial.  Do  you  know  a 
family  of  the  name  of  Farringford  ?  "  added  Larry, 
sharply. 


252  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  know  our  friend  here,  but  no  other  one  of 
the  name/'  replied  Cuore,  shaking  his  head. 

"  Who  employed  you  to  take  charge  of  us?  In 
whose  employ  do  you  labor  to  have  us  shot, 
drowned,  or  otherwise  disposed  of?  " 

"  You  wrong  me,  gentlemen." 

"  General,  will  you  do  us  the  favor  to  have  this 
man  searched?"  added  Larry,  turning  to  our  mili- 
tary friend. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  he,  giving  the  order  in 
French  to  the  sergeant  in  charge  of  the  prisoner. 

The  conspirator  evidently  did  not  relish  this 
measure,  for  he  turned  pale,  and  I  saw  that  he 
was  very  much  agitated.  The  sergeant  obeyed 
the  order,  and  searched  the  prisoner  in  the  most 
thorough  manner.  A  considerable  sum  of  money 
in  napoleons  was  found  in  his  purse,  and  several 
letters  and  papers.  The  sergeant  was  directed  to 
return  the  purse,  but  the  papers  were  handed  to 
me  for  examination. 

"  Those  are  my  private  papers,"  said  Cuore. 

"  Precisely  so ;  and  that  is  the  particular  reason 
why  we  wish  to  see  them,"  answered  Larry. 

"  I  took  you  to  be  gentlemen,"  added  the  pris- 
oner, faintly. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       253 

"  We  are  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  com- 
pliment your  good  judgment  paid  to  us,  and  we 
are  very  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  consult  your  pri- 
vate papers  before  we  venture  an  opinion  upon 
you.     Open  the  documents,  Phil." 

"  I  protest !  This  is  an  outrage,"  said  Cuore, 
warming  up. 

"  Right!     Go  on  with  the  outrage,  Phil." 

I  opened  a  letter,  which  was  in  Italian,  and  I 
could  not  read  it.     I  handed  it  to  General  Eberle. 

"  I  am  in  the  employ  of  the  police  department 
of  Paris,  and  you  have  no  right  to  examine  my 
papers,"  continued  the  prisoner.  "  It  is  an  out- 
rage." 

"  Proceed  with  the  outrage,  Phil,"  added  Larry, 
as  I  picked  up  a  letter  which  bore  the  London 
postmark. 

It  was  directed  to  Cuore  at  Marseilles.  I 
opened  it,  and  found  it  was  in  English.  I  looked 
for  the  signature  first,  but  there  was  none.  This 
fact  was  an  indication  that  the  fellow  was  in  the 
employ  of  some  one  who  would  not  even  trust  his 
name  to  paper.  I  did  not  recognize  the  hand- 
writing, as  I  should  have  done  if  it  had  been  that 
of  either  of  the  Farringfords  of  Chicago.     The  let- 


254  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

ter  had  contained  a  circular  note  for  one  thousand 
francs,  and  promised  further  remittances  as  the 
business  proceeded.  The  other  letters  and  papers 
were  of  no  consequence  to  us,  and  our  search 
seemed  to  amount  to  nothing,  notwithstanding  the 
violent  objections  of  Cuore.  We  concluded  that 
we  had  not  found  his  most  important  documents ; 
but  the  most  diligent  search  failed  to  reveal  any- 
thing further  upon  his  person. 

"  Who  wrote  this  letter  ?  "  I  asked,  holding  the 
one  from  London. 

"  I  decline  to  answer,"  replied  Cuore,  who 
seemed  to  be  greatly  reassured  by  the  ill  success 
of  our  inquiries. 

"  Never  mind,  my  sunny  son  of  Italy.  We  have 
another  string  to  our  bow,"  said  Larry. 

"What  is  that?"  I  asked.   . 

"  General,  has  the  mail-bag  gone  ? "  inquired 
Larry. 

"  No.  We  were  ordered  to  march  a  few  mo- 
ments after  you  left,"  replied  the  general. 

"  Good  !  Our  friend  here  mailed  some  letters. 
I  think  we  had  better  examine  them." 

The  general  summoned  his  orderly,  and  directed 
the    mail-bag   to  be  brought  to  him.     I  kept  my 


.    THE   STEUGGLES   OP   A  SOLDIER.  255 

eye  on  the  prisoner,  who  became  very  much 
agitated  again  as  soon  as  he  understood  our  pur- 
pose. The  small  leather  bag,  in  which  the  letters 
of  the  brigade  were  sent  to  the  nearest  post- 
office,  was  soon  brought  to  the  general,  who 
opened  it. 

"Sir  Philip  Grimsby,"  said  he,  reading  the 
superscription  of  the  first  he  took  out. 

"  That's  mine,"  added  Larry. 

"  Miss  Ella  Gracewood." 

"  That's  mine,"  I  replied. 

"  Miss  Blanche  Fennimore." 

"  All  right,"  said  Larry. 

Half  a  dozen  more  to  people  in  Paris  and  other 
parts  of  France  followed. 

"  Here  is  another  Grimsby,"  added  the  general. 
"  Mr.  Miles  Grimsby." 

"  That's  more  to  the  point.  Let  us  see  it.  He 
is  a  cousin  of  mine." 

Larry  took  the  letter,  and  the  address  suggested 
a  now  theory  to  me,  as  it  must  have  done  to  my 
friend. 

"  That's  not  my  writing,"  said  Larry. 

"  Nor  mine,"  I  added.  "  No  one  here  but  our- 
selves can  possibly  know  Miles  Grimsby." 


256  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Doubted  !  "  exclaimed  Larry.  "  I  begin  to  see 
through  the  hole  in  this  millstone." 

"  So  do  I." 

"  What  you  have  discovered  ?  "  asked  the  gen- 
eral, with  interest. 

"  We  should  like  very  much  to  know  what  is  in 
this  letter,"  replied  Larry. 

"  The  letter  is  sealed,"  said  the  general,  doubt- 
fully. 

"  But  it  was  written  by  Cuore  to  the  man  who 
employed  him  to  see  that  we  do  not  return  to 
England." 

"  It  is  not  my  letter ;  I  know  nothing  about  it," 
interposed  the  prisoner,  struggling  to  appear"  in- 
different, in  which  he  signally  failed. 

"  If  it  is  not  your  letter,  of  course  it  does  not 
concern  you,"  added  Larry. 

"  No ;  but  you  have  no  right  to  open  any  per- 
son's letter.  As  an  agent  of  the  police,  I  will  in- 
form against  you  if  you  open  a  single  envelope." 

"  Martial  law  here,"  said  the  general,  taking  the 
letter  into  his  own  hands.  "  You  do  not  open  ze 
letter,  Monsieur  Greemsby ;  you  do  not  open  ze 
letter,  Monsieur  Farringfor'.  Ze  general  open  ze 
letter.  I  take  ze  responsibility.  You  have  un- 
derstood me  ?  " 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  257 

"  Perfectly,"  we  both  replied. 
"  And  you,  Signor  Cuore  ?  " 
"  I  protest !     No  one  but  the  members  of  the 
police  have  the  right  to  open  a  letter,"  replied 
the  prisoner,  much  alarmed. 

"  You  protest,  and  I  open  ze  letter,"  said  the 
general,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word.  "  Voilci ! " 
exclaimed  the  general,  pointing  to  the  signature 
of  the  letter,  as  he  handed  it  to  Larry.  "  You 
have  wrote  ze  letter,  signore.  It  have  your 
name  with  ze  pen  at  ze  end  of  it." 

"  This  is  entirely  to  the  point,  Phil,"  said  Larry, 
as  he  glanced  at  the  sheet.  "  The  next  time  you 
see  a  Farringford,  apologize  to  the  whole  race  of 
them  for  the  injury  I  have  done  them.  This  fellow 
is  not  working  up  your  case,  but  mine." 
"  This  is  an  outrage,"  said  Cuore,  angrily. 
"  So  it  is,  my  precious  scoundrel ;  but  by  just 
such  outrages  as  this  is  innocence  like  mine  pro- 
tected from  villany  like  yours." 

At  this  moment,  Cuore,  hopeless  now  that  any 
cunning  or  any  accident  could  conceal  his  rascal- 
ity, sprang  away  from  the  guards  who  were  stand- 
ing on  each  side  of  him,  and  leaped  upon  Larry, 
who  held  the  important  letter  in  his  hand.  But 
17 


258  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 

the  sergeant  was  hardly  less  active,  and  threw 
himself  upon  his  prisoner,  followed  by  three 
soldiers.  The  Italian  struggled  to  shake  off  his 
persecutors.  The  peril  of  his  situation  has  ren- 
dered him  desperate,  and  before  the  sergeant  and 
his  companions  could  obtain  a  firm  hold  of  him,  he 
darted  out  from  under  them.  In  another  instant 
he  was  running  with  all  his  might  towards  the 
pickets  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  The  soldiers 
grasped  their  muskets  and  pursued  him.  Three 
shots  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succession,  af- 
ter we  lost  sight  of  the  party  in  the  darkness. 

"  I  don't  believe  that  fellow  will  trouble  us  any 
more,"  said  Larry,  after  we  heard  the  report  of 
the  muskets. 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  have  him  shot,"  I  replied. 

"  Nor  I ;  but  he  has  brought  it  upon  himself. 
Here  they  come.     They  have  finished  him." 

The  soldiers  returned,  bringing  with  them  the 
Italian.  He  was  not  dead,  and  1  raised  the  lan- 
tern from  the  camp-stool  to  ascertain  his  condi- 
tion. The  surgeon  was  at  hand,  and  soon  ascer- 
tained that  two  bullets  had  passed  through  the 
body  of  Cuore.  His  case  was  doubtful,  but  not 
hopeless,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  rear. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       259 

By  the  light  of  the  lantern  we  read  his  letter  to 
Miles  Grimsby,  in  which  he  reported  progress  to 
his  employer.  He  said  that  his  "  friends "  in- 
tended to  start  for  Milan,  and  he  was  "  afraid " 
some  accideDt  would  happen  to  them. 


260  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IN  WHICH  PHIL   INVENTS   AND   LAUNCHES   AN   AQUATIC 
MACHINE,   AND    PREPARES   TO    CROSS   THE   TICINO. 

T  had  never  occurred  either  to  Larry  or  my- 
self that  Cuore  had  any  connection  with  the 
Grimsbys.  It  is  true  that  Miles  had  solemnly 
warned  my  friend  of  the  peril  he  incurred  by 
allowing  events  to  take  their  natural  course  —  by 
permitting  Sir  Philip  to  have  his  own  way.  Nei- 
ther of  us  gave  the  baronet's  grandson  the  credit 
of  being  a  person  of  any  particular  force  of  char- 
acter, either  for  good  or  evil.  We  regarded  his 
warning  as  an  idle  threat,  intended  to  intimidate 
a  weak  mind,  but  to  have  no  effect  whatever  upon 
such  minds  as  we  flattered  ourselves  that  we  pos- 
sessed. 

"  Miles  has  some  grit  in  his  constitution,"  said 
Larry,  after  the  soldiers  had  borne  the  wounded 
Italian  to  the  rear.     "  I  would  not  have  believed 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  261 

that  he  had  the  spunk  to  kill  a  flea,  or  raise  his 
hand  against  a  good-sized  bull-frog." 

"  It  does  not  require  much  courage  to  employ 
an  Italian  bravo  to  do  your  dirty  work  for  you,"  I 
replied. 

"  It  was  very  well  managed,  whoever  did  it ; 
and,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  the  plot  would  have  been 
successful  if  General  Eberle's  brigade  had  not 
moved  over  here  at  just  this  time." 

"  Probably  it  would  have  been  successful.  I 
can't  say  I  like  the  way  these  Frenchmen  do  these 
things.  Sometimes  they  shoot  a  man,  and  hear  the 
evidence  for  or  against  him  afterwards.  We  came 
within  one  of  being  shot  on  the  testimony  of  this 
miserable  Cuore." 

'•  Precisely  so  ;  and  I  judge,  from  the  stories  of 
those  who  speak  English,  that  many  a  fellow  as 
good-looking  as  you  or  I  has  been  shot  on  no  bet- 
ter evidence.  There's  a  great  deal  of  uncertainty 
in  this  world,  Phil,"  added  my  companion,  sagely. 

"  In  this  particular  part  of  it,  and  at  this  particu- 
lar time,  there  is ;  and  this  fact  convinces  me  that 
we  are  out  of  our  element.  If  I  had  known  no 
more  French  than  you  do,  Larry,  we  should  have 
been  sacrificed  before  our  brigade  arrived." 


262  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Correct ;  and,  Phil,  we  will  get  out  of  this 
scrape  as  soon  as  convenient ;  for,  however  I  may 
feel  in  regard  to  myself,  I  will  not  risk  your  neck 
among  the  Philistines  any  longer  than  is  absolutely 
necessary." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  you  are  in  greater  danger 
than  I  am,  Larry,"  I  answered. 

"  Why  so  !  " 

"  Because  Miles  Grimsby  will  never  be  satisfied 
till  he  has  removed  you  from  between  himself  and 
his  expectations." 

"  Now  that  1  understand  the  matter,  I  don't  care 
a  fig  for  him.  Miles  will  find  it  a  very  difficult 
thing  to  wipe  me  out." 

"  He  has  exhibited  no  little  tact  in  managing  his 
case  so  far.  He  went  down  to  London  with  us, 
and  there  employed  this  reckless  Italian  to  fol- 
low us." 

"  Of  course  that  little  farce  in  the  gardens  of 
the  Tuileries  was  only  a  trick  of  Cuore  to  intro- 
duce himself,"  added  Larry. 

"  That's  all ;  but  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  is,  or 
has  been,  in  the  employ  of  the  police  department, 
as  a  spy,  a  shadow,  a  stool-pigeon." 

"  But  I  wonder  where  Miles  found  him." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       263 

Miles  has  travelled  on  the  continent,  and  very- 
likely  Cuore  has  been  a  courrier  or  valet  de  place, 
employed  by  him." 

"  If  he  gets  well,  veryT  likely  we  shall  have  to 
fight  this  battle  over  again  in  some  other  form. 
No  matter ;  it  will  make  it  lively  for  me." 

By  this  time  the  troops  of  the  brigade  were 
asleep  on  the  ground,  where  they  had  bivouacked 
for  the  night.  It  was  said  in  the  camp  that 
McMahon,  with  the  Imperial  Guard,  had  been  mov- 
ing towards  the  north,  and  it  was  believed  that  the 
great  battle  was  close  at  hand.  It  seemed  to  me 
then  that  I  was  quite  willing  to  avoid  the  savage 
contest,  in  which  I  had  no  particular  interest;  but 
I  saw  no  way  to  do  so.  We  had  been  praised  and 
flattered  by  the  officers,  called  the  "brave  Ameri- 
cans," and  we  felt  that  much  was  expected  of  us. 
At  any  rate,  we  were  too  deeply  committed  by  our 
pride  and  self-respect  to  run  away.  We  drew  our 
blankets  over  us,  and  went  to  sleep  together  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Ticino,  near  what  is  now  his- 
toric ground. 

Early  the  next  morning,  though  the  sound  of 
booming  guns  came  not  to  our  waiting  ears,  and 
all  was  as    still  as    if  earth  knew  no  discordant 


264  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

notes,  our  brigade  was  in  marching  order.  Haver- 
sacks were  filled  with  rations,  ammunition  was 
served  out,  and  every  preparation  was  made  for 
active  operations. 

On  that  day  was  fought  the  great  and  decisive 
battle  of  Magenta. 

Its  story  is  briefly  told.  On  the  left  of  the  allied 
army,  McMahon  had  marched,  two  days  before,  to 
the  north.  On  the  preceding  day  this  force  had 
crossed  the  Ticino  at  Turbigo,  a  considerable  dis- 
tance above  the  spot  where  the  Austrians  had 
evidently  expected  the  attack.  But  the  enemy 
hurried  forward  his  troops  in  that  direction,  and 
soon  had  a  superior  force  between  McMahon  and 
the  main  body  of  the  allies.  On  the  day  of  the  bat- 
tle, the  emperor  crossed  the  bridge  at  Buffalora, 
and  took  position  in  front  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  Austrians,  who,  apparently 
unable  to  determine  the  plan  of  the  allies,  made  no 
attack  until  about  noon.  Guyulai,  the  Austrian 
commander-in-chief,  learning  that  the  bridge  of  Buf- 
falora had  been  captured,  and  that  the  invaders 
had  crossed  the  river,  despatched  a  force  to  drive 
back  the  allies,  and  retake  the  bridge.  Canrobert 
was  to  have  followed  tjie  emperor,  who  had  ad- 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  265 

vanced  with  the  grenadiers  of  the  Imperial 
Guard,  but  was  delayed,  and  for  a  time  the  situa- 
tion of  the  emperor  was  critical.  The  Guard  stood 
their  ground  with  a  steadiness  which  has  hardly  a 
parallel  in  history.  Seven  times  in  the  course  of 
two  hours  did  the  enemy  charge  upon  the  little 
force  which  surrounded  his  majesty,  but  were  as 
often  repulsed.  Then  the  Guard,  weary  and  im- 
patient under  this  passive  fighting,  attacked  the 
Austrians.  Canrobert  then  appeared,  and  the  po- 
sition was  *von. 

During  these  critical  moments,  when  the  Impe- 
rial Guard  were  almost  borne  under  by  the  force 
of  opposing  numbers,  the  emperor  was  frequently 
observed  to  cast  his  eyes  anxiousl}7  in  the  direction 
of  Turbigo,  from  which  he  expected  the  force  of 
McMahon  to  come.  It  came  at  last,  having  fought 
its  way  through  a  superior  force,  and  the  junction 
was  effected  in  accordance  with  the  plan  of  the 
emperor.  But  the  Austrians  fought  bravely  to 
the  last,  and  were  slowly  driven  back  upon  Ma- 
genta, which  was  taken,  house  by  house,  by  the 
French,  and  the  great  victory  was  complete  and 
final. 

Until  late   in  the  afternoon,  our  brigade   had 


266  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

been  wholly  unoccupied,  except  in  watching  the 
movements  of  the  enemy  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river.  We  were  part  of  the  force  on  the  right  of 
the  emperor,  whose  duty  it  was  to  prevent  the 
enemy  from  crossing  the  river,  and  taking  the 
allies  on  the  flank.  An  Austrian  corps  oVarmee  was 
stationed  at  Abbiate  Grasso,  directly  in  front  of 
our  position,  which  we  were  either  to  neutralize  or 
follow,  as  the  case  might  require. 

At  noon  we  heard  the  roar  of  the  guns,  and  the 
sharp  rattle  of  the  musketry  at  Buffalora.  The 
combat  deepened  as  the  day  advanced.  From  the 
highest  points  of  observation,  even  from  the  tops 
of  the  trees  and  the  roofs  of  the  houses,  the 
glasses  of  the  field'  officers  were  directed  towards 
the  country  between  Abbiate  Grasso  and  Magenta, 
to  obtain  the  earliest  intelligence  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy  in  front  of  our  division.  A 
pontoon  train  was  in  readiness  to  throw  a  bridge 
over  the  river,  whenever  the  situation  required  an 
advance.  But  the  other  side  of  the  river  was  still 
picketed  by  the  Austrians.  General  Eberle*  was 
constantly  in  consultation  with  the  general  of  divis- 
ion, and  they  were  evidently  much  perplexed  to 
ascertain  the  operations  of  the  Austrian  corps  in 
front  of  them. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  267 

To  my  surprise,  I  found  myself  quite  as  much 
excited  as  the  Frenchmen  around  me,  while  Larry 
was  almost  wild  with  the  desire  to  take  a  more 
active  part  in  the  great  events  of  the  day.  We 
were  both  mounted,  and  had  done  our  full  share  of 
duty.  The  troops  were  kept  in  line,  in  readiness 
to  move  ;  but  we  all  agreed  that  we  had  a  very 
stupid  part  to  perform. 

"  Dull  music,  Phil,"  said  my  friend. 

"  Rather ;  but  I  suppose  we  shall  soon  have 
something  to  do,"  I  answered. 

"  I  am  afraid  not." 

"  Of  course,  if  the  French  carry  the  day  above, 
the  Austrians  will  not  long  remain  in  front  of  us. 
As  soon  as  they  move,  we  shall  cross  over  and 
take  the  Austrians  on  the  left." 

"  Do  you  know,  Phil,  I  believe  those  Dutchmen 
over  there  are  fooling  our  generals?" 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  We  can't  see  through  all  those  trees.  A  hun- 
dred thousand  men  could  move  beyond  the  slope 
without  being  seen.  If  I  were  the  general  of 
division  here,  I  would  cross  the  river  this  instant," 
replied  Larry,  highly  excited. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  battery  over  there  ?  " 


268  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  Hang  the  battery  !  It  has  only  a  dozen  guns 
or  so.     That  must  be  carried  as  soon  as  we  cross." 

"  But  it  makes  a  difference  whether  or  not  it  is 
supported  by  a  corps  aVarmee.  Our  generals  ought 
to  have  some  one  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
to  let  them  know  how  the  thing  is  going  there,"  I 
suggested. 

"  Suppose  you  go  over,  Phil  ?  "  laughed  Larry. 

"  I  am  entirely  willing,"  I  replied,  hardly  think- 
ing what  I  was  saying. 

"  I  should  like  to  go  with  you,  if  the  thing  were 
possible,"  added  my  friend. 

"  It  is  possible,  of  course." 

"  What,  with  pickets  on  the  other  side  of  the 
stream  ?     I  think  not." 

"  But  it  is  possible,  and  I  will  agree  to  do  it." 

"  I  will  go  with  you,  Phil ;  but  it  can't  be  done. 
You  would  be  shot  twenty  times  before  you  could 
get  over.  Here  is  the  general,"  added  Larry,  as  a 
party  of  field  officers  passed  near  <us. 

Larry  told  our  general  what  I  had  said. 

"  Not  possible  !  "  exclaimed  he. 

"  I  think  it  is ;  and  I  will  undertake  the  job,  if 
you  will  support  me,"  I  answered,  with  a  reckless- 
ness which  has  ever  since  amazed  me. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  2G9 

"  I  will  give  you  ze  support  of  ze  whole  brigage, 
with  grand  pleasure,"  said  the  general.  '"  We 
want  ze  information.  Suppose  ze  enemy  move ; 
we  don't  see  him ;  we  don't  know  when  he  go  ; 
we  don't  know  where  he  go  ;  no  !  " 

"  I  will  be  over  there  in  half  an  hour,  or  an  hour, 
at  most,  if  you  will  do  what  I  ask." 

"  Certainly,  I  do  all  you  ask,"  added  the  general, 
with  enthusiasm. 

"  You  have  a  battery  of  artillery.  Drive  the 
pickets  back  from  the  river  with  it." 

"  Yes." 

"  And  give  me  one  of  the  large  copper  soup- 
boilers  from  the  cuisine,"  I  added. 

"  A  soup-kettle  !  "  exclaimed  the  military  gen- 
tleman. "  Will  you  cross  in  a  soup-kettle  ?  Ze 
Austrians  will  make  a  riddle  of  you  with  bullets." 

"  I  do  not  purpose  to  cross  in  the  soup-boiler. 
But  if  you  will  leave  that  part  to  me,  I  will 
manage  it." 

"  As  you  please." 

"  Do  you  see  that  tall  tree  on  the  top  of  the 
little  hill?  "  I  asked,  pointing  to  a  very  tall  poplar, 
whose  branches  had  been  trimmed  off  for  seventy 
or  eighty  feet  from  the  ground,  as  they  are  often 
seen  in  France  and  Italy. 


270  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  see  him,"  replied  General  Eberle,  nervously. 

"  If  the  Austrians  have  marched  towards  Ma- 
genta, I  will  wave  my  handkerchief  from  the  top 
of  that  tree,  or  some  other  one  near  it." 

"  Bravo  !  "  shouted  the  general,  hugging  me  in 
his  enthusiasm,  as  though  I  had  already  done  all  I 
promised  to  do. 

"  Now  send  the  soup-boiler  down  to  the  canal," 
I  replied,  pointing  to  the  willows  where  we  had 
embarked  the  evening  before. 

"  Can't  I  go  with  you,  Phil  ? "  asked  Larry,  as 
we  walked  to  our  baggage-wagon. 

"  Only  one  can  go." 

"  But  you  will  be  shot,  Phil." 

"  I  think  not.  I'm  going  in  for  a  safe  job.  You 
shall  help  me  off." 

I  threw  off  my  uniform,  and  put  on  a  pair  of 
plain  pants,  which,  with  a  shirt  and  a  pair  of  shoes, 
was  my  entire  suit.  Taking  a  saw,  a  hatchet, 
some  rope,  and  nails,  I  hastened  to  the  canal, 
attended  by  Larry.  I  found  a  joist  which  had 
belonged  to  a  bridge  that  had  been  destroyed, 
from  which  I  cut  off  two  pieces  three  feet  in 
length.  Placing  them  two  feet  apart,  I  nailed  two 
sticks  securely  across  them,  so  as  to  keep  them  in 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       271 

position,  forming  a  frame  three  feet  by  two.  By 
this  time  the  soup-kettle  had  arrived.  Putting  the 
frame  in  the  water,  I  placed  the  boiler  upon 
it,  upside  down,  to  ascertain  if  the  joists  would 
float  it. 

The  experiment  was  not  satisfactory,  and  I  was 
obliged  to  add  two  more  sticks,  in  order  to  in- 
crease the  floatage  power  of  the  raft.  It  was  a 
success  this  time  ;  and  turning  over  the  boiler,  I 
lashed  it  firmly  to  the  sticks. 

"  What  under  the  light  of  the  blue  canopy  are 
you  doing,  Phil  ? "  demanded  Larry,  who  had 
watched  me  with  interest,  and  assisted  me  as 
I  required.  "  What  sort  of  a  machine  do  you 
call  that?" 

"  I  don't  call  it.     Now  lend  me  your  revolver." 
I   took   the   pistol,   and   fired  six    shots  at  the 
copper,  which  only  dented  it,  and  none  of  the  balls 
went  through. 

"  All  right,  Lariy.     You  see  it  is  bullet-proof." 
"  I  see  it  is ;  the  metal  gives  so  that  the  shots 
bound  off." 

"  Now  help  me  put  it  into  the  water." 
We  launched  the  novel  machine,  and  I   found 
that  the  floatage  of  the  wood  was  none  too  great, 


272  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

for  the  raft  was  very  nearly  submerged  by  the 
weight  upon  it.  We  towed  the  thing  down  to  the 
mouth  of  the  canal. 

"  Now,  Larry,  go  and  tell  the  general  to  clean 
out  the  pickets,"  I  continued. 

"  All  right ;  but  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  I'm  going  to  swim  across  the  river,  with  my 
head  raised  up  in  the  boiler." 

"  You  will  smother." 

"  No  ;  the  top  is  just  above  the  surface  of  the 
water.  But  I  can  tip  it  a  little  when  I  need  ven- 
tilation." 

But  at  that  moment  a  bullet  whistled  unpleas- 
antly near  my  head,  and  I  "  ducked  "  under  the 
bank  of  the  canal.  It  was  fired  by  the  pickets  on 
the  other  side.  Phil  left  me,  and  in  a  few  moments 
I  saw  the  French  battery  dashing  towards  the 
river. 


THE  STEUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIEE.       273 


CHAPTER  XX. 

IN  WHICH   PHIL   AND    LARRY   TAKE   PART   IN   THE    BAT- 
TLE   OP   MAGENTA,    AND    VISIT    MILAN. 

S  soon  as  Larry  had  started  the  battery  to- 
wards the  river,  he  returned  to  the  canal  to 
assist  me  in  moving  off  my  aquatic  machine.  Be- 
fore he  joined  me,  the  French  cannon  were  waking 
up  the  Austrians  on  the  other  side.  From  the 
earth-works  opposite  a  sharp  fire  was  opened.  A 
company  of  French  riflemen  swept  the  bank  of  the 
river  at  the  same  time,  and  the  place  was  alto- 
gether too  hot  for  the  pickets.  I  saw  them  re- 
treating from  the  shelter  of  the  willows  near  the 
river,  and  the  way  was  thus  prepared  for  my  at- 
tempt. 

"  I  am  all  ready,  Larry,"  said  I.     "  The  coast  is 
as  clear  as  it  will  be." 

"  I'm  afraid  those  Dutchmen  will  gobble  you  up 
as  soon  as  you  land,"  he  replied,  anxiously. 
18 


274  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,    OR 

"  No,  I  think  not.  At  any  rate,  I  shall  do  the 
best  I  can  to  keep  out  of  their  way." 

"  But  I  must  go  over  and  take  care  of  you." 

"  Don't  you  think  I  can  take  care  of  myself?  " 

"  I  doubt  it." 

"  I  have  seen  more  of  this  sort  of  thing  than 
you  have,  Larry,  and,  now  I  am  in  it,  I  feel  quite 
at  home." 

"  That  Indian  skirmishing  again  !  "  laughed  he. 

"  It  was  hotter  than  anything  we  have  seen  here 
yet." 

"  Perhaps  it  was.  But  I  must  go  with  you, 
Phil." 

"  No,  you  stay  here.  I  should  have  to  take  care 
of  you  besides  myself,  if  you  went." 

"  Good,  Phil !  The  lamb  is  becoming  a  lion ; 
but  I  am  a  first-class  tiger,  and  I  feel  moved  to  go 
with  you.  I  should  never  forgive  myself  if  you 
should  be  killed  instead  of  me.  You  have  a 
mother  —  " 

"  And  you  have  a  grandfather,"  I  interposed,  as 
I  prepared  to  put  my  head  inside  of  the  soup- 
boiler. 

"  Never  mind  him.  One  good  turn  deserves 
another,  and  I  shall  leave  him  to  take  care  of  him- 
self, as  he  did  me." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  275 

"  I  dare  say  your  '  taking  off '  would  oblige  your 
cousin  Miles  very  much." 

"  I'm  not  going  to  be  taken  off  to  oblige  him. 
There  is  room  for  two  heads  in  that  big  kettle." 

"  Room  for  the  heads,  but  not  for  the  shoulders 
under  them.  I  have  to  swim,  Larry,  and  tAvo  of 
us  could  do  nothing  in  such  close  quarters.  Be- 
sides, my  dear  fellow,  I  want  you  to  stay  on  the 
shore  here,  and  see  that  nothing  goes  wrong  with 
me.  Keep  out  of  sight,  and  make  no  sign,  or  you 
will  betray  me.  If  you  see  any  chance  to  help  me, 
do  so ;  but  remember  that  discretion  is  the  better 
part  of  valor  in  a  situation  like  this." 

"  Good  by,  Phil,  if  we  never  meet  again,  for  you 
are  going  into  the  lion's  den,  and  he  will  bite  your 
head  off,  all  because  I  am  not  with  you  to  take  care 
of  you.     I  didn't  think  you  could  be  so  obstinate." 

"  Adieu  for  the  present,  Larry.  Keep  your  eye 
on  me  as  long  as  you  can,  but  don't  show  j-ourself." 

I  lay  down  in  the  water,  and  raised  my  head 
under  the  soup-kettle.  The  water  was  about  up 
to  my  middle,  and  I  was  obliged  to  stoop  under  my 
armor.  The  rim  of  the  boiler  was  not  an  inch 
above  the  surface  of  the  water,  but  this  space  was 
enough  to  afford  me  a  supply  of  air,  and  to  enable 


276  BIYOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 

ine  to  see  my  course  over  the  stream.  Grasping 
the  frame  on  which  my  head-armor  rested,  I  pushed 
off.  The  depth  of  the  river  gradually  increased  as 
1  advanced,  and  I  was  soon  obliged  to  swim.  As 
there  was  little  or  no  current,  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
propelling  the  machine  ;  but  I  was  careful  to  make 
no  swash  in  the  water  that  would  attract  the  at- 
tention of  the  enemy.  My  hands  were  placed  on 
one  of  the  boards  I  had  nailed  across  the  joists ; 
and  I  found  that  my  weight  quite  submerged  the 
boiler  in  front  of  me,  so  that  I  could  not  see 
ahead;  but  the  part  behind  me  was  above  the 
water,  so  that  I  did  not  want  for  air. 

"  Starboard ! "  said  Larry,  in  a  voice  loud 
enough  for  me  to  hear. 

Shifting  my  weight  to  the  after  part  of  the  ma- 
chine, so  as  to  permit  the  kettle  to  rise  in  front  of 
me,  I  saw  that  I  was  headed  directly  down  the 
stream,  towards  the  battery,  which  was  belching 
forth  fire,  smoke,  and  grape-shot.  Changing  my 
course,  I  propelled  the  machine  with  my  feet. 
The  river  was  not  wide,  and  in  a  few  moments  I 
found  I  could  touch  bottom  with  my  feet.  Thus 
far  not  a  shot  from  the  shore  had  struck  the  kettle, 
and  I  concluded  that  the  enemy  had  been  so  much 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       277 

occupied  with  the  battery  as  not  to  notice  me. 
Wading  slowly  in  towards  the  Lombardian  shore, 
I  crowded  my  machine  in  among  the  willows 
which  covered  the  bank.  Resting  from  my  vio- 
lent exertions,  —  for  I  had  worked  hard  in  propel- 
ling the  huge  boiler  over  the  river,  —  I  listened 
attentively  for  any  sounds  that  denoted  the  near 
presence  of  the  Austrians.  I  could  hear  nothing 
but  the  roar  of  the  artillery,  still  engaged  in  the 
duel  across  the  stream,  and  I  ventured  to  crawl 
out  from  beneath  my  armor. 

Keeping  my  head  behind  the  kettle,  I  attempted 
to  peer  through  the  willows.  I  could  see  nothing 
of  the  enemy  in  this  direction,  though  an  occa- 
sional shell  exploded  just  below  me,  and  I  could 
hear  the  rattle  of  grape-shot  among  the  trees,  be- 
tween me  and  the  earth-works.  While  I  was  thus 
examining  the  ground  over  which  I  wished  to  ad- 
vance, I  heard  a  noise  in  the  water,  which  caused 
me  to  turn  around.  There  in  the  river,  and  half 
way  across,  was  Larry,  swimming  lustily  towards 
me,  without  the  shelter  of  a  soup-boiler,  or  any 
other  protective  apparatus.  For  an  instant  I 
trembled  for  him ;  but  when  I  considered  that  not 
a  shot  had  been  fired  at  the  moving  boiler,  and 


278  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

that  the  pickets  had  been  driven  back  by  the  fire 
of  the  artillery,  I  could  hardly  keep  from  laughing 
at  the  pains  I  had  taken  to  secure  a  safe  passage. 
With  strong  and  lusty  strokes  Larry  rapidly  ap- 
proached me,  and  was  soon  within  easy  speaking 
distance  of  me. 

"  What  are  you  about,  Larry  ? "  I  asked,  when 
he  ceased  to  swim,  and  began  to  wade  towards  me. 

"  About  my  own  business  and  that  of  the  French 
army,"  replied  he,  puffing  with  his  exertions. 

"  Are  you  mad?" 

"  Never  was  in  better  humor  in  my  life." 

"  Duck  under,  Larry,  or  some  of  the  Austrians 
will  see  you,"  I  called,  earnestly. 

'"  Don't  be  alarmed,  Phil.  1  helped  to  put  a 
head  on  you,  and  I  have  no  notion  of  losing  my 
own.  There  isn't  an  Austrian  within  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  of  you,"  he  answered,  walking  erect  in  the 
water  towards  me.  "  But  why  stand  ye  here  all 
the  day  idle  ?  " 

"  I  was  just  feeling  my  way  up  to  the  shore.  I 
am  provoked  with  you,  Larry.  Why  did  you 
come  over  ?  " 

"  My  conscience  reproached  me  for  permitting  a 
youth  like  you  to  come  over  here  without  any  one 
to  protect  you." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       279 

"  I  am  sorry  you  have  come." 

"  That's  complimentary,  and  I  suppose  my  com- 
pany is  not  agreeable." 

"  On  the  present  occasion  it  is  not." 

"  You  are  selfish,  Phil.  You  wish  to  do  a  big 
thing  all  alone  by  yourself,  and  are  afraid  you  will 
be  robbed  of  a  share  of  the  glory." 

"  You  know  better,  Larry." 

"  Then  don't  quarrel  with  me.  You  made  such 
a  row  about  coming  over  here  under  that  old  soup- 
pot,  that  I  thought  it  was  really  a  dangerous  enter- 
prise ;  but  it  is  only  child's  play.  Come,  Phil,  are 
you  going  to  march  on  the  Austrians?  "  he  rattled 
on,  so  lightly  that  I  was  quite  ashamed  of  my 
prudent  measures.  "  Lead  on  ;  you  shall  boss  the 
job,  and  I  will  follow  you." 

"  All  right ;  but  you  must  do  as  I  do,  or  you  will 
not  only  imperil  your  own  head,  but  mine." 

"  Right !  You  shall  keep  your  head,  and  I  will 
keep  mine." 

I  crept  out  of  the  bushes,  and  throwing  myself 
upon  the  ground,  crawled  to  a  ditch,  used  to  irri- 
gate the  country.  On  one  side  of  it  was  the  usual 
row  of  mulberries,  behind  which  we  walked  a 
short  distance ;  but,  as  the  water  would  not  run 


280  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

up  hill,  we  weare  forced  to  leave  it  in  order  to 
ascend  the  slope  on  which  stood  the  tall  tree. 
Several  rows  of  mulberries  extended  up  the  de- 
clivity, and  between  the  trees  were  lines  of  grape 
vines,  whose  luxuriant  foliage  afforded  us  a  par- 
tial protection.  Creeping  on  the  ground,  we  soon 
reached  the  summit  of  the  slope.  Around  us  the 
ground  was  ploughed  with  shot  and  shell,  and 
many  of  the  trees  were  splintered  ;  but  the  fire  in 
this  direction  had  been  suspended,  for  the  general 
knew  where  we  were  expected  to  be.  The  firing 
had  driven  back  the  pickets,  and  we  could  not  yet 
even  see  them. 

"  Your  plan  has  worked  first  rate,  Phil,"  said  my 
friend,  as  we  paused  on  the  rising  ground  to  take 
an  observation. 

"  All  but  the  soup-kettle,  which  was  superflu- 
ous," I  replied,  vexed  at  tbe  coolness  and  indiffer- 
ence my  companion  had  displayed. 

"  Not  at  all,  my  good  fellow.  If  a  single  shot 
had  hit  your  ark,  of  course  I  should  not  have  dared 
to  cross  the  river.  The  soup-kettle  was  a  tip-top 
idea  to  feel  your  way  with  ;  but  of  course,  after  you 
had  proved  that  there  was  not  a  picket  within  half 
a  mile,  it  was  not  needed.     It  is  scarcely  necessary 


THE   STRUGGLES    OF   A   SOLDIER.  281 

for  me  to  insinuate  that  I  do  not  undervalue  your 
ark  of  safety.     No  pickets  in  sight  yet." 

"  No  ;  but  I  must  climb  that  tree.  From  the  top 
of  it  I  can  see  over  the  mulberries,  and  cover  the 
country  for  miles." 

On  the  summit  of  the  slope  the  ground  was 
planted  with  Indian  corn,  which  was  high  enough 
to  afford  us  all  the  shelter  we  needed.  We  crawled 
in  the  rows  across  several  of  the  spaces  between 
the  lines  of  mulberries,  till  we  reached  the  tree. 
There  was  not  a  branch  on  its  trunk  within  seven- 
ty-five feet  of  the  ground,  and  it  was  no  easy  job 
to  climb  it. 

"  There  you  are  !  Crawl  up,  my  mud-turtle," 
said  Larry,  glancing  at  me. 

Of  course  I  could  not  swim  the  river  without 
wetting  my  clothes,  and  as  I  crawled  through  the 
cornfield  the  soil  had  clung  to  my  dripping  gar- 
ments till  I  well  deserved  the  appellation  which 
my  companion  had  applied  to  me.  But  Larry  was 
in  no  better  condition. 

"  I  am  all  ready,  fellow-worm  of  the  earth  ;  but 
you  must  crawl  over  to  the  edge  of  the  cornfield, 
so  as  to  give  me  timely  notice  of  the  approach  of 
the  enemy,  while  I  crawl  up  the  tree." 


282  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Right !  we  are  a  wormy  couple.  Crawl  away." 
My  friend  made  his  way  to  the  point  indicated, 
and  I  commenced  my  difficult  undertaking.  For- 
tunately, the  tree  was  of  the  spindling  kind,  and 
its  diameter  did  not  at  all  correspond  to  its 
height.  Even  when  my  arms  and  legs  were  far 
shorter  than  now,  I  had  climbed  tall  cotton-woods, 
and  the  experience  I  had  acquired  enabled  me  to 
accomplish  my  purpose.  I  was  obliged  frequently 
to  pause  and  rest ;  but  in  less  than  half  an  hour  I 
had  ascended  as  far  as  it  was  safe  to  go.  I  had  a 
full  view  of  the  country  in  every  direction.  The 
battle  was  still  raging  above  us  at  BufTalora  and 
other  points.  Vast  volumes  of  smoke  were  rising 
from  the  battle-field,  and  the  roar  of  artillery  seemed 
to  shake  the  earth  beneath  me.  I  turned  to  the 
country  behind  the  slope.  I  distinctly  saw  several 
columns  of  infantry  and  artillery  moving  hurriedly 
towards  Magenta.  A  large  portion  of  them  had 
been  posted  behind  the  earth-works,  to  repel  an 
advance  in  this  direction.  I  had  ascertained  what 
General  Eberle  desired  to  know  —  that  the  troops 
behind  the  battery  had  been  withdrawn.  The 
Austrians  were  hard  pressed  by  the  Imperial 
Guard,  and  were  obliged  to  reenforce  their  columns 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  283 

by  bringing  up  the  troops  which  had  protected 
their  left.  I  made  the  signal  with  my  handker- 
chief, repeating  it  till  I  saw  the  pontoon  train  dash 
down  to  the  river's  side.  The  French  artillery 
poured  shot  and  shell  into  the  earth-works  with 
tremendous  rapidity,  in  order  to  cover  the  opera- 
tions of  the  pontoon  engineers.  In  a  very  short 
time  the  bridge  was  completed.  A  regiment  of 
Zouaves  went  over  on  the  run,  and,  without  stopping 
to  fire  a  volley,  or  even  a  single  shot,  rushed  upon 
the  earth-works,  carrying  them  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye.  As  the  artillery-men  retreated,  their  own 
guns  were  turned  upon  them.  I  saw  the  picket 
line  which  had  been  driven  back  from  the  river  re- 
tire upon  the  main  body.  The  field  was  clear,  and 
our  brigade  released  from  its  late  inactivity.  I 
descended  from  my  high  position,  and  found  Larry 
at  the  foot  of  the  tree. 

"  How's  that  for  high  ?  "  said  he. 

"  First  rate.  The  Austrians  have  all  left  this 
vicinity,  and  our  work  is  done.  I  want  my  coat 
and  cap." 

As  we  walked  towards  the  pontoon  bridge,  we 
met  the  general. 

"  You  have  done  ze  business  very  nice.     You 


284:  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,    OR 

have  help  us  very  much.  You  have  done  one 
grand  thing !  "  exclaimed  he,  grasping  my  hand. 

"  It  was  very  easily  done,"  I  replied.  "  My 
friend  swam  over  without  any  soup-kettle." 

"  Only  after  Phil  had  proved  that  there  was  no 
danger." 

Our  servant  had  brought  over  our  clothes  and 
baggage,  and  our  horses  were  waiting  near  the 
bridge.  We  washed  ourselves  in  the  river,  and 
put  on  clean  shirts.  Mounting  our  steeds,  we 
overtook  the  brigade,  and  took  our  places  near  the 
general.  The  column  was  marching  towards  Ma- 
genta, where  the  heaviest  of  the  fighting  was  now 
going  on.  Near  a  farm-house  on  the  way  we  were 
confronted  by  a  force  of  Austrians,  and  a  sharp 
skirmish  took  place.  I  found  myself  in  the  midst 
of  it,  with  bullets  whistling  about  my  head.  The 
general  gave  me  an  order  to  deliver  to  a  colonel, 
and  I  hastened  to  obey.  I  soon  became  interested 
in  the  business,  and  as  zealous  as  any  one  on  the 
field.  In  delivering  another  order,  I  found  myself, 
by  a  sudden  movement  of  the  Austrians,  directly' 
in  front  of  them  ;  my  horse  dropped  under  me,  and 
one  of  my  struggles  as  a  soldier  was  to  get  my  leg 
out  from  beneath  him. 

All  the  rest  of  that  day  was  a  hot  struggle.     We 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       285 

drove  the  Austrians  before  us  at  last,  and  entered 
the  village  of  Magenta.  We  took  the  place  house 
by  house,  and  street  by  street.  Ail  was  fury  and 
excitement ;  but  it  was  victory  —  hard-won  victory. 
Larry  was  as  wild  as  any  Frenchman  on  the  field, 
and,  when  sent  to  execute  an  order,  finding  the 
officer  in  command  of  the  battalion  killed,  he  led 
the  column  himself,  and  made  a  fierce  charge  with 
it.  Both  of  us  were  repeatedly  commended  by  our 
friend  the  general. 

The  day  at  Magenta  was  won,  and  that  night  I 
saw  the  emperor  and  the  king  of  Italy.  I  was 
utterly  exhausted  when  the  work  was  done,  and 
while  the  entire  plain  was  ringing  with  cheers,  I 
went  to  sleep. 

The  next  day,  and  the  next,  we  marched.  The 
allied  army  entered  Milan.  The  two  sovereigns 
were  received  with  acclamations.  Our  brigade 
was  encamped  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city.  As 
soon  as  we  could  obtain  leave,  we  hastened  to  the 
Corso  di  Bosinare.  I  found  the  office  of  Signor 
Bertani,  and  ascertained  where  his  residence  was. 
Taking  a  carriage,  we  hastened  thither.  It  was 
quite  near  our  camp. 

I  was  admitted,  and  in  a  few  minutes  I  stood  in 
the  presence  of  my  mother. 


286  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

IN  WHICH    PHIL    IS    IDENTIFIED    BY   HIS   MOTHER,   AND 
LARRY   GOES   TO    ENGLAND. 

STOOD  before  my  mother.  I  trembled  with 
emotion.  For  years  I  had  been  looking  for- 
ward to  this  moment  with  bounding  anticipations. 
It  had  seemed  to  me  that  all  the  joys  of  earthly 
life  were  concentrated  in  this  instant.  Like  a 
little  child,  I  had  longed  and  sighed  for  my  mother. 
I  could  not  speak  ;  I  could  only  look  at  her.  I  could 
see  in  her  face,  which  was  more  beautiful  to  me 
than  that  of  the  fairest  maiden  I  had  ever  beheld, 
the  expression  and  every  feature  of  the  picture  in 
my  possession. 

But  I  could  not  forget  that  my  identity  had  not 
yet  been  acknowledged.  In  the  room  were  Mr. 
Joseph  Collingsby  and  his  invalid  wife.  Perhaps 
I  should  be  spurned  here,  as  I  had  been  in  Chicago, 
when  I  attempted  to  claim  my  birthright.     The 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       287 

events  of  the  past  rushed  through  my  mind  with 
electric  rapidity,  and  I  tried  to  connect  the  past 
with  the  present.  I  gazed  at  the  lady  before  me 
with  tremulous  anxiety.  I  saw  that  she  was 
regarding  me  with  equal  earnestness.  I  tried  to 
speak,  but  I  could  not,  and  we  stood  gazing  at 
each  other  in  silence. 

At  the  door  I  had  simply  inquired  for  Mr.  Col- 
lingsby ;  but  as  the  Italian  servant  did  not  speak 
French,  I  could  do  nothing  more  than  mention  the 
name.  It  appeared  that  the  party  were  expecting 
the  arrival  of  two  English  gentlemen,  with  whom 
they  desired  to  make  the  journey  into  Switzer- 
land ;  and  we  were  taken  to  be  those  persons,  and 
admitted  without  ceremony. 

"  You  wish  to  see  me  ?  "  said  Mr.  Collingsby  to 
Larry  Grimsby. 

"  No,  sir ;  my  friend  desires  to  see  Mrs.  Far- 
ringford." 

"  What  is  your  friend's  name  ?  " 

"  Philip  Farringfordt" 

I  heard  this,  and  my  mother  heard  it,  while  we 
were  still  regarding  each  other.  Suddenly  the 
lady  threw  herself  upon  my  neek,  and  kissed  me 
on  the  cheek.     I  felt  her  hot  tears  upon  my  face, 


288  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

and  I  felt  that  I  was  recognized  without  any  ex- 
hibition of  the  evidence.     I  kissed  her  in  return. 

"  Louise  !  "  said  Mr.  Collingsby,  sternly. 

She  gently  disengaged  herself  from  me,  and 
taking  one  of  my  hands  in  hers,  she  looked  at  her 
brother. 

"  Well,  Joseph  ?  "  she  replied,  struggling  with 
her  emotions. 

"  I  must  beg  you  to  be  cautious." 

"  This  is  my  son  !  "  exclaimed  she,  grasping  my 
other^  hand  also,  and  gazing  at  me  again  with  the 
most  intense  earnestness. 

"  Father  and  Richard  have  both  warned  you 
against  this  person,"  said  Mr.  Collingsby,  coldly. 

I  must  explain  what  afterwards  came  to  my 
knowledge.  My  mother  had  been  told  that  her 
husband  had  acknowledged  a  young  man  as  his 
son ;  but  her  father's  family  in  Chicago  believed 
that  it  was  a  trick  to  obtain  a  portion  of  the  old 
man's  property.  She  had  been  informed  that  I 
was  on  the  way  to  Europe,  and  cautioned  to  repel 
the  imposition  if  I  came  into  her  presence.  It  was 
only  by  accident  that  I  was  admitted  to  her 
presence  —  an  accident  made  possible  only  by  the 
alarms   of  war.     The   party  had    been   trying  for 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF  A  SOLDIER.  289 

several  weeks  to  get  into  Switzerland ;  but  Mr. 
Collingsby  was  a  timid  man,  and  dared  not  under- 
take the  journey  in  the  troubled  state  of  the 
country.  They  were  in  daily  expectation  of  the 
arrival  of  the  two  English  gentlemen  who  were  to 
accompany  them,  and  doubtless  Mr.  Collingsby 
was  very  much  disappointed  when*  the  visitors 
proved  to  be  other  persons. 

"  Joseph,  I  know  him,"  said  my  mother :  and  she 
smiled  through  her  tears. 

"  This  is  absurd,  Louise.  Your  child  was  lost 
when  he  was  only  two  years  old." 

"But  I  know  his  expression,  and  I  know 
every  lineament  of  his  face.  It  is  my  boy — I 
know  it !  " 

"  It  is  ridiculous,  Louise." 

"  I  ask  for  no  evidence  whatever  but  his  face. 
It  is  exactly  the  same  as  when  he  last  looked 
upon  me,"  added  my  mother,  still  gazing  earnest- 
ly at  me. 

"  I  will  not  permit  this  imposition,"  protested 
Mr.  Collingsby. 

"  I  know  my  own  child,  and  I  shall  cling  to  him 
while  I  have  life." 

"  Right !     That's  the  style,"  whispered  Larry. 
19 


290  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Mr.  Collingsby,  neither  your  father  nor  your 
brother  would  ever  listen  to  what  my  father  or  I 
had  to  say  on  this  subject.  I  offered  to  present 
the  evidence  to  them,  but  they  declined  to  hear 
me." 

"  It  was  too  absurd  to  be  listened  to." 

"  Reasonable  people  do  not  judge  until  after 
they  have  heard,"  I  replied. 

"  But  the  whole  story  is  ridiculous  on  the  face 
of  it." 

"  Sit  down,  Philip,  and  tell  me  all  about  it,"  said 
my  mother,  leading  me  to  a  sofa. 

"  Not  here,"  interposed  Mr.  Collingsby. 

"  Then  I  will  go  with  you,  Philip,  to  your 
hotel." 

"  Are  you  crazy,  Louise  ?  "  demanded  her 
brother. 

"  Will  you  hear  what  my  son  has  to  say  ? " 

"  No,  I  will  not.  It  is  all  a  trick  of  his  drunken 
father,"  said  Mr.  Collingsby,  angrily. 

"  My  father  is  a  sober,  industrious,  Christian 
man.  He  does  not  ask  a  dollar  or  a  penny  of  any 
Collingsby.  He  is  able  to  support  his  family,  and 
asks  no  favors  of  any  one.  I  know  that  he  has  not 
drank  a  drop  of  intoxicating  liquor  for  two  years," 
I  replied,  warmly. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  291 

"  Joseph,  this  is  my  son.  If  you  repel  him,  you 
repel  me.  Where  he  goes  I  will  go.  I  have 
nothing  more  to  say,"  added  my  mother,  with 
quiet  dignity,  as  she  threw  her  arm  around  my 
neck. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  the  warnings  of  father  and 
Richard  have  had  no  effect  upon  you,"  said  he, 
more  calmly,  when  he  saw  that  his  violence  was 
complicating  the  matter. 

"  Until  I  saw  Philip  I  believed  that  it  was  an 
imposition ;  now  I  know  that  it  is  not.  This  is  my 
son.     I  cannot  be  mistaken,"  replied  my  mother. 

u  I  think,  sir,  that  if  you  will  hear  me,  I  can 
convince  you." 

"  Not  now  ;  another  time,"  he  answered,  testily. 

"  I  am  not  quite  prepared  at  the  present  time 
myself  to  exhibit  all  the  evidence,"  I  added.  "  If 
you  will  name  a  time,  you  will  oblige  me." 

"  To  morrow,  at  ten  o'clock,"  said  Mr.  Col- 
lingsby. 

"  I  have  sent  to  Genoa  for  my  trunk,  and  expect 
it  to-day.  If  it  comes  I  shall  be  able  to  satisfy 
you,  I  think." 

"  But  you  must  not  leave  me  for  a  moment, 
Philip,"  said  my  mother. 


292  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

il  I  am  a  volunteer  aid  in  the  French  array,  on 
the  staff  of  General  Eberle,  mother." 

"  You  ?  » 

"  I  was  in  the  battle  of  Magenta." 

"  0,  Philip  !  —  how  could  you  —  " 

"  But  I  will  resign  at  once." 

"  Then  I  must,"  added  Larry.  "  But  I  will  go 
over  to  the  camp.  If  your  trunk  has  come,  shall  I 
send  it  over  here  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,"  I  replied. 

"  Yes,  send  it,"  interposed  my  mother.  "  And 
your  own  also,  if  you  are  the  friend  of  my  son." 

"  But,  Louise,"  interposed  Mr.  Collingsby. 

"  If  my  son  is  not  welcome  here,  I  cannot  be.  I 
will  go  to  a  hotel  with  him  then.  He  shall  not 
leave  me,"  said  my  mother. 

"  I  cannot  trespass  upon  the  hospitality  of  stran- 
gers," I  interposed.  "  I  must  go  to  the  camp, 
mother,  in  order  to  resign  my  position." 

"  If  you  leave  me,  I  am  afraid  I  shall  never  see 
you  again.  I  will  go  with  you  to  the  camp," 
added  my  mother. 

Mr.  Collingsby  protested.  He  was  evidently 
disgusted,  and  only  wished  to  get  me  out  of  the 
way.     Signora  Bertani  appeared,  and  invited  both 


THE   STRUGGLES    OP   A   SOLDIER.  293 

Larry  and  me  to  make  her  house  our  home.  We 
did  not  accept,  though  we  staid  there  till  after 
dinner.  Then  we  went  to  the  camp,  resigned  our 
positions  on  the  staff,  and  bade  farewell  to  our 
comrades  in  arms,  who  were  very  kind  to  us. 
The  general  expressed  his  regret  at  parting  with 
us,  and  offered  to  serve  us  in  any  way  he  could. 
He  gave  each  of  us  a  testimonial,  and  obtained  for 
us  a  safe-conduct  at  headquarters,  which  would 
enable  us  to  pass  any  army  lines,  and  which  would 
procure  any  assistance  that  we  might  require. 
My  trunk  had  arrived,  and  we  went  to  the  Hotel 
Marino. 

We  returned  to  the  residence  of  Signor  Bertani. 
My  mother  embraced  me  as  I  entered,  and  said 
that  the  hour  I  had  been  absent  was  an  age  to  her. 
I  exhibited  my  testimonial  and  our  safe-conduct, 
and  translated  them  into  English,  for  Mr.  Col- 
lingsby  knew  hardly  a  word  of  French.  The  doc- 
ument attracted  his  attention,  for  we  could  pass 
his  party  through  into  Switzerland.  He  was  more 
considerate  towards  me  then,  for  he  was  very  anx- 
ious to  escape  from  Italy  and  the  confusion  of  the 
war.  I  staid  till  a  late  hour,  and  then  went  to  the 
hotel. 


294  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

The  next  morning,  with  the  relics  of  my  child- 
hood, I  hastened  to  the  Bertanis.  Mr.  Collingsby 
was  not  inclined  to  hear  me,  but  he  could  not 
avoid  it  without  driving  my  mother  and  me  from 
the  house. 

"  Now,  Philip,  I  want  you  to  tell  the  whole 
story,"  said  my  mother,  who  was  seated  at  my 
side,  holding  my  hand. 

"  I  am  afraid  it  will  take  me  two  or  three  hours/' 
I  replied. 

"  No  matter  if  it  takes  all  day." 

I  related  my  story  from  beginning  to  end,  and 
it  was  lunch  time  when  I  finished. 

"  That  is  a  very  good  story  ;  but  there  is  noth- 
ing at  all  in  it  to  convince  anybody  that  you  are 
my  sister's  son,"  said  Mr.  Collingsby,  after  we  re- 
turned from  the  dining-room. 

"  I  am  aware  of  it  —  the  evidence  is  yet  to  be 
presented.  When  I  was  discovered  by  Matt  Rock- 
wood,  certain  articles  were  found  upon  me." 

"  You  were  wrapped  in  a  shawl.  How  well  I 
remember  it !  "  said  my  mother. 

"  Here  is  the  shawl,"  I  added,  taking  it  from  the 
bundle  at  my  side. 

"  It  is  the  same  one  !  "  exclaimed  my  mother. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP  A   SOLDIER.  295 

I  produced  the  little  dress,  and  the  bracelets 
with  which  the  sleeves  had  been  looped  up,  which 
were  promptly  identified. 

"  This  locket  was  hung  upon  my  neck,"  I  con- 
tinued. 

"  You  gave  this  locket  to  the  child  yourself, 
Joseph,"  said  my  mother,  opening  it.  "  Here  is 
the  picture  painted  by  Schmidt." 

Mr.  Collingsby  examined  it,  and  admitted  that 
the  locket  was  the  one  he  had  given  me. 

"But  where  did  you  get  these  things,  young 
man  ?  " 

"  They  were  found  upon  me  when  I  was  picked 
up  by  Matt  Rockwood." 

He  suggested  the  same  objections  that  others 
had  presented.  The  relics  were  good  evidence  as 
far  as  they  went,  but  they  did  not  identify  me. 

"  But  I  identify  him,"  interposed  my  mother. 
"  Could  I  look  into  his  little  face  every  day,  all 
day  long,  for  two  years,  and  not  know  him  again  ? 
After  I  lost  him,  I  still  saw  him,  and  his  image  has 
never  passed  out  of  my  heart.  I  can  see  him  now 
as  he  was  then." 

"  Was  there  any  mark  upon  him,  Louise,  such  as 
is  discovered  upon  the  foundlings  and  the  long-lost 
sons  in  the  novels  ?  "  laughed  Mr.  Collingsby. 


296  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OB 

"  Not  a  mark,"  I  replied. 

"  Yes,  he  had  a  mole  on  the  back  of  his  neck ; 
but  that  may  be  gone  now,"  added  my  mother, 
drawing  down  my  head,  and  examining  the  part 
indicated.  "  But  I  should  not  be  any  better  satis- 
fied if  I  found  a  dozen  marks  which  I  had  seen 
upon  the  child.  There  it  is  —  larger  than  it  was, 
but  in  the  same  place." 

"  I  give  it  up,"  said  Mr.  Collingsby,  when  he  hftd 
examined  the  mole.  "  Give  me  your  hand,  Philip. 
You  are  my  nephew,  without  doubt.  But  it  is  a 
strange  story,  and  you  must  excuse  my  incre- 
dulity." 

"  I  don't  blame  you  at  all,  uncle  Joseph." 

"  Now,  can  you  get  us  out  of  Italy  ?  "  asked  my 
uncle ;  and  perhaps  his  desire  to  escape  from 
war's  alarms  had  no  little  influence  in  convincing 
him  that  I  was  his  nephew. 

"  Certainly  I  can.  You  shall  start  to-day,  if  you 
please." 

"  To-morrow  will  do." 

We  made  the  arrangements  for  the  journey  at 
once. 

"  Now  tell  me  about  your  father,"  said  my 
mother.     "  Is  he  entirely  changed  ?  " 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       297 

"  Entirely,  mother ;  and  I  am  sure  that  he  will 
never  drink  another  drop  as  long  as  he  lives." 

"  Thank  God  !  " 

"  I  hope  you  will  forgive  him,  mother." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  if  he  is  changed.  We  may 
be  happy  yet ;  but  0,  what  a  waste  of  misery 
there  is  behind  me  !  " 

"  Never  mind  the  past,  mother ;  let  us  think 
only  of  the  future." 

"  You  are  right,  Philip.  I  can  hardly  believe 
that  I  am  the  mother  of  such  a  manly  boy  as  you 
are  —  so  brave  and  daring,  too.  But  I  do  believe 
it,  and  this  fact  is  happiness  enough  for  the  future. 
I  should  be  content  to  live  in  a  hovel  now." 

"  There  will  be  no  need  of  that,  for  father  has  a 
salary  of  three  thousand  dollars,  and  I  am  good  for 
a  thousand  more,"  I  added. 

"  But  I  am  afraid  we  cannot  go  home  at  present, 
for  Joseph's  wife  is  very  feeble,  and  I  cannot  leave 
her.  I  wish  your  father  could  come  over  and 
join  us." 

"  That  is  impossible,  for  he  has  the  care  of  Mr. 
Rockwood's  property  in  St.  Louis,  and  cannot 
leave.  I  shall  write  to  him  to-day,  and  send  the 
good  news." 


298  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

At  a  late  hour  in  the  evening  I  went  to  the 
hotel,  and  wrote  a  long  letter  to  my  father.  The 
next  day  we  went  by  easy  stages  in  a  private  car- 
riage to  Sesto,  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Maggiore.  Our 
safe-conduct  enabled  us  to  pass  without  difficulty, 
and  procured  for  us  the  best  accommodations  on 
the  road.  The  health  of  Mrs.  Collingsby  was  so 
feeble  that  we  used  up  a  week  in  travelling  to 
Lucerne.  By  this  time  I  was  on  excellent  terms 
with  my  uncle.  I  took  charge  of  the  details  of  the 
journey,  which  my  knowledge  of  French  enabled 
me  to  do  better  than  he  could.  Larry  and  I  had 
written  to  our  banker  in  Paris  to  forward  our  let- 
ters to  Lucerne.  There  was  one  for  my  friend, 
and  several  for  me. 

"  I  must  go  at  once,  Phil,"  said  Larry,  after  he 
had  opened  his  letter. 

"  Why  ?  what's  the  matter  ?  " 

" '  Come  home  at  once,  you  dog,  or  you  will 
never  again  see  me  alive,' "  replied  Larry,  reading 
from  his  letter.  "  And  it  was  written  a  week  ago. 
I  must  not  lose  a  moment." 

"  But  I  don't  see  how  I  can  go  with  you, 
Larry." 

"  I  must  go  alone,  then.     My  grandfather  may 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       299 

be  dead  now.  He  is  a  jolly  old  fellow,  and  I  hope 
he  won't  slip  off  this  time." 

"  I  hope  not.  You  must  look  out  for  Miles 
Grimsby :  he  means  harm  to  you." 

"  Confound  him !  I  don't  care  what  he  means. 
There  will  be  a  coldness  between  us  now,  since  I 
have  discovered  his  game  —  that  is  all:" 

"  Cuore  is  still  in  the  hospital,  and  the  last  I 
heard  of  him  he  was  getting  better ;  but  be  pru- 
dent, Larry,  and  don't  make  any  friends  on  the 
way.     I  wish  I  were   going  with  you." 

"  I  wish  you  were,  my  boy  ;  but  you  must  write 
every  day,  and  I  will  do  the  same,  if  it  is  only  a 
single  line." 

"  I  will,  Larry ;  and  I  shall  miss  you  very 
much." 

"  But  you  have  your  mother  now." 

"  Thank  God,  I  have." 

He  was  off  that  night,  after  bidding  us  an  affec- 
tionate adieu.  We  missed  him  very  much,  for  he 
was  always  full  of  life  and  fun. 


300  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

IN   WHICH    PHIL    REMONSTRATES   WITH   LARRY,   WHO 
DECIDES   TO    GO   UP   IN   A   BALLOON. 

EMOVED  from  the  din  and  excitement  of 
war,  Mrs.  Collingsby's  health  improved.  We 
went  to  Carlsbad,  whose  waters  had  a  very  salu- 
tary effect  upon  her  ;  and  she  was  so  much  better 
that  my  mother  and  I  made  several  journeys  to 
places  of  interest  in  the  interior  of  Europe,  as 
Berlin,  Dresden,  Vienna,  Frankfort,  Cologne,  Ham- 
burg, and  Baden-Baden.  The  war  ended  with 
the  battle  of  Solferino  and  the  treaty  of  Villa- 
Franca. 

I  had  frequent  letters  from  Larry.  Sir  Philip 
Grimsby  was  not  dead  when  his  grandson  arrived, 
though  he  was  very  feeble.  Miles  was  utterly 
confounded  at  the  return  of  my  friend,  who  be- 
came a  great  favorite  with  the  baronet.  In  Oc- 
tober,  while   we  were    still    at    Carlsbad,  Larry 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       301 

wrote  me  that  Sir  Philip  was  nearly  restored  in 
health,  and  consented  to  his  absence  for  a  few 
weeks.  I  had  scarcely  received  the  letter  before 
my  friend  arrived.  We  almost  hugged  each  other 
in  the  mutual  delight  of  meeting  again.  He  was 
cordially  welcomed  by  my  mother  and  my  uncle. 

"  Tell  me  about  Grimsby  Hall,  Larry.  How  is 
your  grandfather?''  I  said,  when  we  were  by 
ourselves. 

"He  is  better;  but  I  think  he  is  failing,  on 
the  whole.  His  constitution  seems  to  be  bro- 
ken, and  another  stroke  of  apoplexy  will  finish 
him.     But  he  is  a  jolly  old  fellow." 

"  And  how  is  Miles  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  see  much  of  him.  Miles  has  taken 
to  yachting,  and  is  spending  piles  of  money  on 
his  boat." 

"  I  didn't  think  he  had  wit  enough  to  appre- 
ciate a  yacht." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that ;  but  he  is  com- 
pletely absorbed  in  his  craft,  and  says  he  shall 
go  to  America  in  her  next  season." 

"  How  big  is  his  yacht?" 

"  About  a  hundred  tons,  I  saw  by  a  report  of 
a  sailing  match,  in  which  she  took  the  second 
prize." 


302  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"I  wouldn't  be  Miles  Grimsby  for  all  the 
yachts  that  ever  floated;  but  I  envy  him  the 
pleasure  of  such  an  amusement.  There  is  noth- 
ing like  it,  to  my  mind.  I  should  like  to  make 
a  trip  around  Europe,  stopping  a  week  or  so  in 
places  of  interest  on  the  way.  But  I  shall 
never  have  the  means  to  do  anything  of  that 
kind." 

"  I  shall,  Phil,  for  my  grandfather  allows  me 
just  the  same  as  Miles  has  —  ten  thousand  pounds 
a  year ;  and  when  either  of  us  wishes  to  buy  a 
yacht,  a  pair  of  horses,  or  a  house,  he  is  willing 
to  come  down  with  an  extra  ten  thousand  or  so. 
I  rather  like  the  idea  of  a  voyage  in  a  yacht, 
and  we  will  talk  it  over." 

"  Of  course  I  don't  expect  you  to  buy  a  yacht 
for  my  benefit." 

"  I  shall  enjoy  it  as  much  as  you,  Phil." 

"  You  say  that  Blanche  is  well  and  happy." 

"  I  said  she  was  well  —  not  happy.  I  don't 
think  she  is  happy.  I  didn't  tell  you  that  we 
are  engaged,  but  it  is  so." 

"  Indeed !  " 

"  Fact ;  and  we  were  engaged  before  the 
baronet  acknowledged  me  as  his  grandson." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       303 

"Then  you  are  publicly  acknowledged." 

"  Not  very  publicly  —  only  to  a  dozen  or  so ; 
and  it  hadn't  got  into  the  newspapers  when  I 
left  England,  so  far  as  I  know." 

"  If  you  and  Blanche  are  engaged,  I  should 
think  she  would  be  happy,"  I  suggested. 

"  So  far  as  our  engagement  is  concerned,  I 
think  she  is  happy.  But  Grimsby  Hall  is  not  a 
pleasant  place  for  her  to  live.  Uncle  Miles  is 
only  one  step  from  lunacy,  and  he  makes  the 
house  very  uncomfortable.  They  say  his  brain 
is  softening ;  but  I  don't  believe  he  ever  had  any 
brains  to  soften.  Once  in  a  while  he  has  a  tan- 
trum, and  makes  the  house  too  hot  for  the  family. 
I  had  to  take  him  by  the  collar  one  night,  when 
he  insisted  upon  turning  his  wife  out  of  doors. 
But  he  is  simply  stupid  most  of  the  time,  and 
they  think  of  sending  him  to  an  asylum.  But 
what  are  you  going  to  do,  Phil?" 

"  I  hardly  know." 

"  Shall  you  go  home  this  fall?  " 

"  If  Mrs.  Collingsby's  health  will  permit,  we 
shall." 

"  By  the  way,  I  think  I  saw  Cuore  in  London," 
continued  Larry. 


304  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

"  Impossible." 

"  Not  at  all  impossible.  The  last  we  heard  of 
him  in  the  hospital,  he  was  better." 

"Where  did  you  see  him?" 

"  In  the  railroad  station,  as  I  was  leaving  for 
Paris.  He  seemed  to  have  an  eye  on  me,  but 
when  I  made  for  him,  he  disappeared.  In  Paris 
I  kept  both  eyes  open,  for  I  fancied  that  the 
rascal  was  dogging  my  steps.  Miles  was  up  at 
the  Hall  the  Sunday  before  I  left,  and  knew 
where  I  was  going.  Several  times,  when  the 
train  stopped  between  here  and  Paris,  I  looked 
into  every  compartment  of  the  carriages,  and 
examined  the  face  of  every  passenger :  but  I  did 
not  see  Cuore." 

"  Did  you  say  anything  to  Miles  about  him  ?  " 
I  asked. 

"  Not  a  word  ;  nor  to  Sir  Philip.  I  don't  think 
the  old  man  likes  Miles,  though  he  treats  him  with 
a  show  of  affection,  and  all   that  sort   of  thing." 

"  But  you  don't  think  Miles  will  attempt  to 
repeat  the  experiment  he  tried  before  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  why  he  should  not,  for  I  still 
stand  between  him  and  his  expectations.  But  he 
was  very  pleasant  to  me,  and  invited  me  to  sail 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       305 

with  him  in  his  yacht.  I  was  afraid  I  might  fall 
overboard  if  I  did  ;  so  I  declined,"  laughed  Larry. 
"  I  shall  keep  my  eyes  open.  I  hope  you  are  not 
going  to  stay  here  long,  Phil.     It's  a  stupid  place." 

I  should  have  thought  so  myself  if  my  mother 
had  not  been  with  me.  We  were  never  tired  of  be- 
ing together,  and  of  talking  of  the  past.  Mrs.  Col- 
lingsby  was  so  much  better  that  it  was  decided  to 
return  to  America.  We  went  to  Leipsic,  and 
found  the  city  crowded  with  people,  in  attendance 
upon  a  great  festival.  With  difficulty  we  obtained 
rooms  at  the  Hotel  de  Pologne.  In  the  evening 
Larry  and  I  went  to  the  great  garden,  which  was 
crowded  with  visitors,  drinking  beer  and  listening 
to  the  music.  We  seated  ourselves  at  a  table,  and 
drank  coffee. 

"  There  he  is ! "  exclaimed  Larry,  pointing  to- 
wards the  kiosk  in  which  the  musicians  played. 

"Who?" 

"  Cuore." 

Larry  leaped  to  his  feet,  and  moved  in  the  direc- 
tion he  had  pointed ;  but  the  surging  crowd  came 
between  us  and  the  man  we  were  seeking. 

"  He  is  gone,"  said  Larry.     "  He  sat  at  this  table. 
There  is  his  beer,  not  finished." 
20 


306  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

"  Are  you  sure  it  was  he  ?     I  did  not  see  him." 

"  I  am  pretty  sure  it  was  he,  though  he  was  not 
dressed  as  when  we  saw  him  before/' 

"  Perhaps  you  are  mistaken." 

"  I  may  be,  but  I  don't  think  I  am.  If  it  was  not 
he,  why  should  he  dodge  so  suddenly  when  I 
moved  this  way  ?  " 

"  Possibly  you  are  right." 

"  I  know  the  rascal's  face  too  well  to  be  mis- 
taken. The  moment  he  caught  my  eye,  he  turned 
away." 

We  returned  to  our  table  and  drank  the  coffee 
which  was  waiting  for  us.  We  walked  all  over 
the  garden  in  search  of  Cuore,  but  were  unable  to 
find  him.  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  my  friend 
had  been  mistaken  in  the  identity  of  the  person  he 
supposed  to  be  his  enemy. 

"  Can  you  read  that,  Phil  ?  "  asked  Larry,  as  he 
paused  before  a  handbill  on  which  was  the  picture 
of  a  balloon. 

"  Not  a  word  of  it,"  I  replied.     "  But  evidently 
there  is  to  be  a  balloon  ascension  here." 
"  Did  you  ever  go  up  in  a  balloon,  Phil  ?  " 
"  Of  course  I  never  did." 
"Of  course  you  would  like  to  do  so." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  307 

"  No  ;  I  don't  believe  in  exposing  myself  to  dan- 
ger in  that  way." 

"  Ton  my  word,  there  is  no  danger  in  it," 
laughed  Larry.  "Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  man 
being  killed  in  a  balloon?" 

"  I  have  heard  of  people  being  killed  by  falling 
out  of  them." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  person  being  killed  by 
falling  out  of  a  carriage  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  have." 

"  Then  it  is  dangerous  to  ride  in  a  carriage." 

"  That  is  sophistry,  not  argument,  Larry." 

"  I  am  no  philosopher,  as  you  are,  learned  Phil. 
I  don't  know  that  I  ever  heard  of  anybody  being 
killed  by  an  accident  to  a  balloon,  except  a  woman 
in  France,  when  the  thing  was  blown  up  by  a  sky- 
rocket, or  something  of  that  sort.  If  I  could  get  a 
chance  to  go  up,  even  by  paying  a  hundred  dollars 
or  so,  I  should  go  up.  It  would  be  a  new  sensa- 
tion." 

"We  went  back  to  the  hotel.  In  the  office  was 
the  balloon  handbill.  Larry  shopped  to  look  at  it 
again. 

"Donnerstag.  What's  that,  Phil?"  said  he, 
spelling  out  a  word  on  the  bill. 


308  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea ;  but  I  judge  from  the 
date  following  it,  that  it  is  some  day  of  the  week." 

"  Exactly  so.  Donnerstag.  If  I  wasn't  a  print- 
er, I  couldn't  read  even  that." 

"  It  means  Thursday,"  said  a  dark-complexioned 
gentleman,  who  had  apparently  paused  to  read  the 
bill. 

"  Thank  you.     That's  to-morrow." 

"  Yes.     You  do  not  read  German." 

"  Not  a  word  of  it," 

"  The  balloon  ascension  is  to  take  place  to-mor- 
row, at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,"  continued 
the  stranger. 

"  Fifty  thalers  !  "  exclaimed  Larry,  reading  from 
the  bill.  "  That  is  a  pretty  steep  price  for  seeing 
a  balloon  ascension." 

"  Steep?  "  queried  the  stranger. 

"  Very  dear,"  explained  Larry. 

"  Not  for  seeing  it.  Signor  Bianchi,  the  aero- 
naut, will  take  two  gentlemen  with  him,  as  passen- 
gers, for  fifty  thalers  each." 

"  Cheap  enough.  I  should  like  to  see  Signor 
Bianchi." 

"  Should  you  ?  " 

"Are  his  passengers  engaged  yet?" 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       309 

"  No." 

"  Then  I  should  like  to  see  him.  Does  he  speak 
English  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,"  replied  the  stranger,  smiling.  "  As 
well  as  I  do." 

"  That's  well  enough." 

"  Will  you  see  him  ?  " 

"  Certainly." 

"  You  don't  really  think  of  going  up  in  a  balloon, 
Larry,"  I  interposed. 

"  '  Pon  my  word,  I  do,  if  I  get  the  chance  ;  and 
I  am  willing  to  pay  fifty  thalers,  cash  down,  for  the 
opportunity." 

"  Signor  Bianchi  is  staying  at  this  hotel,"  said 
the   stranger. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  ;  but  are  you  an  Italian  ?  " 
asked  Larry. 

"  I  am." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  Signor  Bianchi." 

"  No ;  but  I  travel  all  over  Europe  with  him, 
and  sometimes  make  an  ascension.  If  you  desire 
to  go  up  in  the  balloon  to-morrow,  you  shall  have 
a  place." 

"  I  will  give  you  a  final  answer  in  half  an  hour 
or  so." 


310  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

The  gentleman  bowed,  and  left  us. 

"  Don't  think  of  such  a  thing,  Larry,"  I  en- 
treated, when  we  were  alone.  "  Don't  risk  your 
neck  for  nothing." 

"  Not  for  nothing.  I  am  to  pay  fifty  thaler s  for 
the  privilege  of  risking  it,  and  I  think  it  is  cheap 
at  that." 

"  But  it  is  folly." 

"  Certainly  it  is.  But  I  am  human.  Phil,  I 
must  go  up  in  that  balloon  ;  I  can't  help  it.  I  al- 
ways had  a  desire  to  do  the  thing.  You  remem- 
ber there  was  one  in  Marseilles  when  we  were 
there.  I  was  telling  Cuore  then  —  who  said  he 
had  been  up  five  times  —  if  I  ever  got  a  chance,  I 
should  certainly  go  up." 

"  Don't  you  do  it,  Larry.  This  man  is  an  Ital- 
ian, too." 

"  No  matter  if  he  is.  He  is  one  of  those  bal- 
loonists  that  travel  over  the  country,  and  make 
ascensions  at  fairs  and  festivals,  and  for  the  benefit 
of  beer  gardens,  and  such  places.  I  am  afraid  if  I 
lose  this  opportunity  I  shall  never  get  another." 

In  vain  I  begged  and  pleaded  with  him ;  he  was 
as  obstinate  as  a  mule.  Mr.  Collingsby  and  my 
mother  tried  their  eloquence  upon  him  with  no 
better  result. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF  A   SOLDIER.  311 

"  I  have  concluded  to  go,"  said  Larry,  walking 
up  to  the  Italian,  who  was  seated  in  the  coffee- 
room.. 

tt  Yery  well,  sir.  I  will  give  you  a  receipt  for 
fifty  thalers." 

"  Are  you  the  proprietor  of  the  balloon  ?  " 

"  1  am  ;  but  I  am  not  the  gentleman  who  makes 
the  ascension  to-morrow." 

"  You  are  not  Signor  Bianchi  ?  " 

"  No.     I  am  Signor  Cuore,  his  partner." 

"  Cuore  !  "  exclaimed  Larry. 

"  Cuore,  sir." 

He  certainly  was  not  the  villain  of  that  name 
whom  we   knew. 

"  Have  you  a  brother  ?  " 

"  One  in  New  York ;  none  here,"  replied  the 
balloonist.  "  I  have  lived  five  years  in  New  York 
myself." 

"  Where  is  Signor  Bianchi  ?  " 

"  He  has  retired  for  the  night." 

".  I  should  rather  like  to  see  the  man  with  whom 
I  am  to  go  up." 

"  He  has  been  quite  sick  for  a  week  ;  but  he  is 
better.  He  may  not  be  able  to  make  the  ascen- 
sion to-morrow.     If  not,  I  shall  go  up  in  his  place. 


312  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

If  you  wish  to  engage  a  seat  in  the  car,  I  will  give 
you  a  receipt  now,  for  we  have  other  applications." 

"  I  engage  it  here  and  now ;  "  and  Larry  took 
the  fifty  thalers  from  his  pocket-book. 

"  If  you  will  give  me  your  card,  I  will  write  the 
receipt,"  added  Cuore. 

Larry  wrote  his  name  on  a  card,  and  the  bal- 
loonist made  out  the  receipt  in  good  English. 

"Are  there  any  other  Italians  in  Leipsic  ?  "  I 
asked,  when  the  business  was  finished. 

"  Plenty  of  them,"  replied  Cuore. 

"  Do  you  know  another  of  your  name  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  two  of  them.  Cuore  is  a  very  common 
name  in  Italy.  One  of  them  is  a  wine  merchant, 
and  the  other  is  a  silk  agent  from  Milan." 

I  described  the  Cuore  in  my  own  mind  ;  but  the 
Italian  did  not  know  him,  or  professed  not  to  know 
him.  Larry  was  confident  that  he  had  seen  our 
evil  genius  in  the  garden.  There  was  nothing 
improbable  in  the  supposition  that  the  villain  was 
in  Leipsic,  and  that  he  was  following  us  wherever 
we  went.  He  was  certainly  in  the  employ  of 
Miles  Grimsby.  He  had  failed  in  his  wicked  pur- 
pose once,  but  he  might  not  a  second  or  a  third 
time.  I  could  not  connect  him  in  any  manner 
with  the  balloon  ;  but,  then,  his  ways  were  dark. 


THE   STEUGGLES   OF  A   SOLDIER.  313 

"  Larry,  I  beg  of  yon,  as  a  favor,  not  to  go  up  in 
the  balloon  to-morrow,''  said  I,  as  we  went  to  our 
room. 

"  Nonsense,  Phil  !  " 
.   "  Cuore  is  in  town,  according  to  your  statement; 
and  this  balloon  man  is  also  a  Cuore.     There  is 
something  wrong  somewhere." 

"  Don't  be  a  baby,  Phil." 

"  I  begin  to  see  through  the  whole  of  it.  Cuore 
has  been  dogging  you  since  you  left  London.  He 
knows  —  for  you  told  him  —  that  you  intended  to 
go  up  in  a  balloon  when  you  got  a  chance  ;  so  he 
has  laid  in  with  this  man  to  take  you  up  ;  and  he 
will  take  care  that  you  do  not  come  down  alive." 

"  If  I  don't,  he  won't,"  laughed  Larry.  "  Don't 
make  bugbears,  my  dear  Phil.  Your  brain  is  dis- 
ordered. Go  to  sleep,  and  you  will  wake  up  bet- 
ter in  the  morning.     Adieu." 

Larry  was  still  obstinate,  and  I  went  to  sleep. 


314  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

IN  WHICH   PHIL  IS   VERY  ANXIOUS  ABOUT   LARRY,  WHO 
HAS   A   PERILOUS   ADVENTURE   IN   THE   BALLOON. 

IN  the  morning  letters  for  our  party  came,  for- 
warded by  the  banker.  One  had  an  ominous 
black  seal,  and  was  addressed  to  Larry.  I  handed 
it  to  him. 

"You  will  not  go  up  in  the  balloon  to-day,"  I 
said ;  for  I  concluded  that  the  letter  announced  the 
death  of  Sir  Philip  Grimsby. 

"  Perhaps  not,"  he  replied  ;  and  I  saw  that  he 
was  deeply  moved.  "  If  my  grandfather  is  dead,  I 
shall  never  cease  to  blame  myself  for  leaving  him, 
even  for  a  single  day." 

He  opened  the  letter.  The  event  of  its  coming 
seemed  to  be  something  like  a  providence  inter- 
posing to  prevent  him  from  risking  his  life  so  fool- 
hardily in  the  balloon. 

"  Thank  God   it  is   not  my  grandfather !  "   ex- 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIEE.  315 

claimed  Larry;  and  I  could  see  the  feeling  of 
relief  that  found  expression  in  his  face. 

"But  who  is  it?" 

"  My  uncle  Miles.  I  have  rather  expected  it. 
Well,  it  is  a  mercy  to  him,  and  certainly  to  the 
other  members  of  the  family,  for  he  was  of  no  use 
or  comfort  to  himself  or  anybody  else.  But  this 
letter  is  a  week  old,  and  the  day  of  the  funeral  has 
already  gone  by." 

"  Yet  you  will  not  go  up  in  a  balloon  after 
receiving  such  a  letter,"  I  suggested. 

"  Why  not  ?     It  is  not  a  ball  or  a  part}r." 

"But  it  is  a  frolic." 

"  Not  at  all.  I  go  up  in  the  balloon  for  the 
same  reason  that  I  should  visit  a  picture  gallery 
or  a  library  —  to  improve  my  mind,  to  obtain 
larger  views  of  things  in  general." 

My  friend  was  determined  to  carry  out  his  pur- 
pose, and  it  was  useless  for  me  to  labor  any  further 
to  dissuade  him.  At  the  appointed  time  we  went 
to  the  garden,  where  the  balloon  was  already 
inflated.  There  were  thousands  of  spectators, 
most  of  whom  had  probably  never  seen  an  ascen- 
sion. The  Cuore  whom  we  had  met  at  the  hotel 
requested  Larry  to  take  his  seat  in  the  car. 


316  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  Good  by,  Larry,"  said  I,  shaking  his  hand. 

"  Nonsense,  Phil !  I  shall  be  with  you  this 
evening  or  to-morrow  morning,"  replied  he,  light- 
ly. "  The  only  danger  that  I  ever  could  see  in 
going  up  in  a  balloon  was  being  carried  out  to 
sea  ;  but  that  is  impossible  here,  you  know.  I  am 
perfectly  safe,  in  my  own  opinion." 

"  Of  course  I  shall  hope  for  the  best.  Have  you 
seen  the  man  who  is  going  up  with  you  ?  " 

"  Not  yet." 

"  I  expect  him  in  a  moment,"  interposed  Cuore. 
"  As  I  told  you,  he  is  not  very  well,  and  I  told 
him  not  to  come  till  four  o'clock." 

The  crowd  cheered  and  applauded  when  Larry 
seated  himself  in  the  car.  Twenty  men  held  the 
balloon  by  the  netting,  and  it  was  permitted  slow- 
ly to  rise  till  the  car  was  lifted  from  the  ground. 

"  Where  is  the  other  passenger  ?  "  asked  Larry. 

"  You  will  be  the  only  one,"  replied  Cuore. 
"  The  gas  is  so  poor,  I  find,  that  we  cannot  take 
the  second  gentleman." 

"  All  right.  Then  I  shall  have  the  fun  all  to 
myself,"  added  Larry. 

"  Here  is  Bianchi." 

I  turned  to  see  the  aeronaut.     He  was  envel- 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  317 

oped  in  a  long  overcoat,  which  extended  down  to 
his  ankles.  It  had  a  cowl,  which  was  drawn  over 
his  cap,  so  that  he  looked  like  a  monk.  He  walked 
directly  to  the  car  and  leaped  in.  At  the  same 
instant  Cuore  on  the  ground  cut  the  single  rope 
that  held  the  balloon.  A  wild  cheer  from  the 
crowd  rent  the  air  as  it  rose  almost  perpendicular- 
ly. Bianchi  waved  a  couple  of  flags,  and  the 
multitude  shouted  again.  I  obtained  a  single 
glance  at  the  cowled  head  of  the  aeronaut  after 
he  started.  He  seemed  like  a  mysterious  person- 
age to  me,  so  sudden  and  so  singular  had  been  his 
coming,  and  so  rapid  his  going.  Larry  was  seated 
in  the  bottom  of  the  car,  and  I  did  not  see  his  face 
after  the  ascent  commenced.  In  spite  of  all  I  had 
said,  I  could  not  but  feel  that  the  chances  were 
altogether  in  favor  of  my  friend's  coming  back 
alive  and  well. 

I  watched  the  balloon  till  it  looked  like  a  speck 
in  the  distance.  It  floated  off  to  the  westward, 
towards  the  Harz  Mountains.  In  spite  of  myself 
I  was  nervous  and  uneasy  about  my  friend.  I 
could  not  adopt  his  theory  that  he  was  just  as  safe 
up  in  a  balloon,  a  mile  or  two  from  the  earth,  as  he 
was  on  the  solid  ground.     The  time  hung  heavily 


318  BIVOUAC   AND    BATTLE,   OR 

upon  me  till  night,  and  then  I  could  not  sleep  for 
thinking  of  Larry.  I  was  sorry  I  had  not  been 
more  decided  with  him ;  that  I  had  not  induced 
my  party  to  leave  Leipsic  before  the  ascension. 

The  morning  papers  contained  no  intelligence 
of  the  aeronauts.  I  was  told  by  the  porter,  to 
whom  I  applied  for  information,  that  Cuore,  the 
balloonist's  partner,  had  departed  for  Cassel,  where 
he  was  to  make  arrangements  for  another  ascen- 
sion at  a  fair,  and  where  Bianchi  was  to  convey 
the  balloon  after  its  descent.  Our  party  were 
ready  to  continue  the  journey  to  England,  and 
were  only  waiting  the  return  of  Larry.  At  dark 
he  had  not  arrived,  and  I  became  very  anxious 
about  him.  But  the  porter  came  to  me  with  an 
evening  paper,  in  which  was  a  paragraph  saying 
that  the  balloon  had  descended  near  Nordhausen, 
at  the  extremity  of  the  Harz  Mountains. 

"  When  will  he  return?  "  I  asked. 

"  Not  to-night.  It  is  more  as  sixty  miles,  mit  a 
railroad  only  from  Halle,"  replied  the  porter. 

"  Here  he  is  ! "  I  actually  shouted,  as  Larry  en- 
tered the  office,  covered  with  mud  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Jawold  !  "  exclaimed  the  porter. 

"  How  are  you,  Phil?"  said  my  friend,  grasping 
my  offered  hand. 


THE   STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  319 

"  First  rate ;  only  I  have  worried  my  life  out 
about  you,"  I  replied.     "  What's  the  matter  ?  " 

He  looked  pale,  and  seemed  to  be  exhausted.  I 
was  sure  he  was  not  satisfied  with  his  journey  in 
the  air. 

"  I'm  tired,  Phil ;  that's  all.  I  want  some 
supper." 

We  went  to  our  room,  after  ordering  his  sup- 
per, where  he  changed  his  clothes.  But  he  was 
weary  and  languid,  for  him. 

"  Where  did  you  land,  Larry  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea.  Don't  know  the 
name  of  a  single  town  through  which  I  passed," 
said  he,  with  a  faint  smile.  "  I  couldn't  speak  a 
word  of  the  lingo,  and  no  one  spoke  English." 

"  But  where  was  Bianchi  ?  " 

"  Bianchi  ?  " 

"  The  balloonist." 

"  Humph  !  He  wasn't  there.  But  let  me  have 
some  supper  before  I  say  anything.  Don't  ask  me 
another  question,  Phil." 

I  saw  that  something  unpleasant  had  occurred; 
but  I  waited  until  after  he  had  taken  his  supper, 
when  he  declared  that  he  felt  better. 

"  Now,  Phil,  we  will  go  up  stairs,  and  I  will  tell 
you  all  about  it,"  said  he. 


320  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

In  the  chamber  he  threw  himself  upon  a  lounge. 

"  Did  you  see  the  man  who  went  up  with  me, 
Phil  ?  " 

"  I  did." 

"  Did  you  know  him  ?  " 

"  No.  He  did  not  show  himself  till  the  moment 
you  started,  and  I  could  not  see  his  face,  which 
was  nearly  covered  by  the  cowl  of  his  coat." 

"  Who  do  you  think  he  was  ?  " 

"  Bianchi,  I  supposed." 

"  Not  at  all." 

"  Who  was  he  ?  " 

"  Cuore." 

"  You  don't  mean  so." 

"  The  fellow  we  talked  with  here  was  Bianchi ; 
and  he  is  the  man  who  usually  makes  the  ascen- 
sions." 

"  But  3rou  don't  mean  to  say  that  your  companion 
in  the  balloon  was  the  Cuore  we  knew  in  Italy." 

"  I  do.  I  was  sure  I  saw  him  in  the  garden, 
though  you  did  not  believe  me.  He  was  the  very 
man.  I  did  not  see  his  face  till  we  were  half  a 
mile  above  the  earth.  He  stood  with  his  back  to- 
wards me,  waving  the  flags.  I  did  not  feel  quite 
at  home  in  the  basket,  though,  as  I  sat  in  the  bot- 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A    SOLDIER.  321 

torn  of  the  car,  I  was  not  conscious  of  any  motion. 
Then  I  looked  over  the  side,  and  the  view  was  so 
magnificent  that  I  could  not  help  shouting  with 
rapture.  It  was  the  subliinest  thing  in  the  world. 
Phil,  I  advise  you  to  go  up  in  a  balloon  when  you 
get  a  chance  ;  but  don't  go  up  with  such  a  fellow 
as  Cuore." 

"  I  certainly  shall  not,  if  I  can  help  it.  How  long 
was  it  before  you  recognized  your  companion  ?  " 

"  When  he  had  waved  the  flags  a  while,  he  threw 
back  his  cowl  and  turned  round.  I  knew  him  at 
once,  though  he  was  very  much  altered  in  appear- 
ance. He  was  dressed  better,  and  wore  a  longer 
beard.  He  looked  at  me,  and,  if  ever  a  man  was 
ugly,  he  was. 

"  '  Cuore  ! '  said  I. 

"  '  At  your  service,'  he  replied. 

"  I  told  him  that  I  supposed  we  did  not  meet  by 
accident ;  but  he  made  no  reply,  and  did  not  seem 
to  be  ready  for  business.  We  floated  over  towns 
and  villages,  and  were  approaching  the  hills  to  the 
westward  at  sunset.  The  balloon  began  to  drop, 
and  Cuore  threw  out  bags  of  sand  till  we  rose 
again.  I  suggested  that  it  was  nearly  dark,  and 
that  we  had  better  make  a  landing. 
21 


322  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  '  I  purpose  to  stay  up  all  night,'  said  he. 

"  '  All  right,'  I  replied. 

"  But,  having  used  up  all  his  ballast,  the  balloon 
dropped  down  into  a  lower  atmosphere,  and  began 
to  go  to  the  eastward,  in  another  current. 

"  '  This  will  never  do,'  said  Cuore.  '  I  want  to 
go  over  the  Harz  Mountains,  for  we  make  an  as- 
cension in  Cassel.  The  balloon  will  rise  no  higher 
with  both  of  us  in  the  car.' 

"  *  And  you  would  like  to  throw  me  out,'  I  sug- 
gested. 

"  '  No,'  he  replied, '  I  would  not  do  such  a  thing.' 

"  I  told  him  plainly  that  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Miles  Grimsby  ;  that  he  had  dogged  me  from  Lon- 
don, and  that  the  present  excursion  was  for  my 
benefit.  The  balloon  was  now  slowly  nearing  the 
earth,  and  to  help  it  along,  I  gave  the  valve  rope  a 
pull,  for  I  was  in  a  hurry  to  have  my  dangerous 
companion  where  I  could  be  on  equal  terms  with 
him.  The  moment  I  touched  it,  he  clinched  me  by 
the  throat,  and  attempted  to  throw  me  out  of  the 
car.  I  was  desperate  then,  as  any  man  would  be 
in  such  a  situation.  He  was  not  so  strong  as  he 
supposed  he  was,  for  he  had  not  entirely  recovered 
from  his  wounds.     In  the  midst  of  the  struggle,  I 


vZKj'z&l) 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       323 

heard  him  groan  heavily.  I  don't  know,  but  I 
think  that,  in  his  violent  exertions,  he  opened  the 
old  wound,  for  he  fell  back  upon  the  ropes  by 
which  the  basket  was  suspended.  I  pulled  him 
down  into  the  bottom  of  the  car.  He  would  have 
fallen  out  if  I  had  not  done  so,  and  I  did  not  wish 
to  serve  him  as  he  intended  to  serve  me.  I  would 
not  have  his  death  upon  my  conscience  for  all  the 
revenues  of  Grimsby.  He  was  not  insensible,  but 
he  seemed  to  be  in  great  pain. 

"  In  the  struggle  my  legs  had  become  entangled 
in  the  valve  rope,  and  the  pressure  upon  it  kept 
it  open.  The  balloon  descended  steadily,  and  soon 
touched  the  ground  upon  the  side  of  a  hill.  There 
was  not  a  breath  of  air,  and  the  instant  the  car 
reached  ground  I  threw  over  the  grapnel,  and 
leaped  out,  intending  to  hold  on  to  the  basket.  I 
knew  nothing  about  ballooning,  and  I  was  too  much 
excited  to  think.  I  supposed  the  grapnel  would 
hold  the  thing ;  but  the  moment  the  balloon  was 
relieved  of  my  weight  it  shot  up  into  the  air  again. 
I  lost  my  hold  upon  the  basket,  for  it  went  up  with 
a  jerk  the  instant  my  feet  touched  the  earth.  The 
grapnel  rope  was  wound  around  the  trunk  of  a 
tree,  and  ran  out  of  the  car,  to  which  it  did  not 


324  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,   OR 

appear  to  be  fastened.  Relieved  of  my  weight, 
and  of  that  of  the  grapnel  and  rope,  the  balloon 
rose,  moving  first  to  the  eastward,  and  then,  as  its 
altitude  increased,  to  the  westward. 

"  Now,  Phil,  I  didn't  mean  to  leave  Cnore  in 
that  car.  I  hope  I  had  enough  of  your  Christian 
spirit  about  me  to  do  what  I  could  for  him  in  his 
disabled  condition,  though  he  sought  my  life,  and 
will  again,  if  he  recovers." 

"  But  what  did  you  do,  Larry?  " 

"  I  could  not  do  anything  for  Cuore,  and  not 
much  for  myself.  A  dozen  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren gathered  around  me,  and  looked  at  me  with 
wonder  and  astonishment.  Probably  they  had 
been  watching  the  balloon,  and  hastened  to  the 
spot  when  they  saw  it  descending.  One  of  them 
spoke  to  me,  but  of  course  I  couldn't  understand 
him.  I  spoke  English  to  the  group,  but  no  one 
comprehended  it.  I  showed  some  money,  and 
said,  '  Leipsic,'  a  dozen  times.  I  made  all  sorts 
of  signs,  and  was  finally  conducted  to  a  house. 
I  continued  to  repeat  '  Leipsic '  until  the  people 
comprehended  what  I  wanted,  and  conveyed  me 
in  a  cart  to  the  nearest  town.  At  the  little  hotel 
a   man   was   brought   to   me    who    spoke    a   little 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       325 

English.  I  told  him  I  had  come  in  the  balloon, 
and  wished  to  go  back  to  Leipsic  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. I  was  told  that  a  diligence  would  pass 
through  the  place  in  the  middle  of  the  night.  I 
had  some  supper,  and  then  tried  to  sleep ;  but  I 
could  not.  My  nerves  were  more  shaken  than 
ever  before.  At  midnight  I  took  the  diligence, 
and  came  to  a  place  where  I  took  the  train ;  and 
here  I  am,  nearer  used  up  than  I  ever  was 
before." 

u  That's  a  very  strange  adventure,"  I  added. 

"  Strange  !  I  am  beginning  to  lose  my  taste  for 
adventure.  I  can't  help  thinking  how  I  felt  when 
Cuore  attempted  to  pitch  me  out  of  the  balloon. 
The  idea  of  dropping  down  half  a  mile,  and  fetch- 
ing up  with  a  round  turn  on  a  rock,  or  even  on 
the  ground,  was  the  most  disagreeable  thing  that 
ever  came  over  me.  Moral.  When  you  go  up 
in  a  balloon,  get  introduced  to  your  companion 
before  you  start." 

"  What  do  you  suppose  has  become  of  Cuore  ?  " 

"I  haven't  the  least  idea;  but  I  suppose  the 
balloon  has  come  down  before  this  time.  I  must 
go  to  bed,  Phil,  for  I  am  used  up." 

I  found  my  mother  in  the  private  parlor,  and 


326  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OE 

repeated  the  adventure  of  my  friend  to  an  inter- 
ested little  audience. 

Larry  was  better  the  next  day,  and  we  pro- 
ceeded on  our  journey. 

"  I  don't  understand  how  Cuore  came  in  that 
balloon,"  said  I,  as  we  rode  along  in  the  railway 
carriage. 

"  It  is  plain  enough  to  me  now,  for  I  thought  it 
all  over  while  I  was  riding  in  that  diligence.  Cu- 
ore clogged  me  all  the  time,  watching  his  chance 
to  do  something.  He  must  have  heard  me  say  I 
wanted  to  go  up  in  a  balloon.  Then  he  made  a 
trade  with  Bianchi  to  go  in  his  place." 

"But  why  did  Bianchi  call  himself  Cuore?" 

"  Probably  to  blind  me,  and  to  provoke  an  in- 
quiry in  regard  to  the  real  Cuore,  so  that  he  could 
convince  us  there  was  no  such  Italian  in  Leipsic." 

"Very  likely.  I  hope  you  won't  go  up  in  a 
balloon  again." 

"  I  don't  know.  I  think  it  pays,  if  you  know 
your  companion." 

We  continued  on  our  journey,  but  did  not 
reach  London  until  the  end  of  a  week. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       327 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

IN  WHICH   PHIL  AND   LARRY  VISIT  GRIMSBY   HALL,  AND 
RETURN   TO   AMERICA. 

LARRY  had  written  to  Sir  Philip  that  our 
party  would  be  in  London  at  a  certain  time, 
and  on  our  arrival  he  found  a  letter  from  the 
baronet,  inviting  us  all  to  Grimsby  Hall.  We 
went  after  a  day  in  the  great  city.  Larry  and  I 
had  letters  from  the  president  of  the  Lowerville 
Bank,  acknowledging  full  satisfaction  for  all  that 
was  due  the  bank.  My  friend's  letter,  being  the 
last  one,  assured  him  that  the  "  honorable  con- 
duct "  of  the  friends  of  Mr.  Fennimore  had  placed 
his  reputation  above  reproach.  Though  I  was  un- 
able to  see  how  this  could  be,  I  was  willing  to  ac- 
cept the  fact.  The  directors  were  men  of  the 
world,  it  appeared  afterwards,  and  losing  no 
money  by  the  cashier,  they  were  willing  and 
glad  to  acquit  him  of  all  evil  intentions.     They 


328  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

circulated  the  story  that  lie  was  partially  insane, 
aud  never  meant  to  rob  the  bank  of  a  dollar.  His 
subsequent  death,  and  the  prompt  settlement  of 
all  his  accounts  with  the  bank,  appeared  to  con- 
firm the  statement,  and  his  conduct  was  all  "  ex- 
plained away." 

All  this  was  decidedly  wrong,  for  the  explana- 
tions were  all  pure  inventions ;  but  so  far  as  Mr. 
Fennimore  was  concerned,  he  bitterly  repented 
of  his  crime,  and  made  all  the  restitution  to  the 
bank  in  his  power.  He  deserved  to  be  forgiven, 
but  not  to  be  "whitewashed." 

We  went  to  Grimsby  Hall.  The  family  were  in 
deep  mourning  for  Miles,  senior,  so  far  as  outward 
appearances  were  concerned,  but  there  was  no 
genuine  grief.  Miles  the  younger  was  at  home, 
but  he  was  silent,  moody,  and  cross-grained.  We 
were  cordially  welcomed  by  the  baronet  and 
Blanche,  but  by  no  one  else  ;  and  our  party  were 
not  disposed  to  remain  long. 

"  Miles,  my  boy,  don't  be  so  stiff  with  your 
cousin,"  said  Sir  Philip,  as  we  sat  in  the  library, 
on  the  evening  of  our  arrival,  after  my  mother  and 
the  Collingsbys  had  retired. 

"  I'm  not  stiff,  sir,"  replied  he. 


THE  STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  329 

"  'Pon  my  life  you  are.     I  think  you  hate  him." 

"Certainly  not, -'sir,"  protested  Miles. 

"It  isn't  his  fault  that  he  is  your  cousin,  and  the 
son  of  your  father's  older  brother." 

"  I  know  it,  sir,  and  I  don't  blame  him.  I  have 
tried  to  treat  him  well,  though  I  was  a  little  irri- 
tated when  I  first  saw  that  he  came  between  me 
and  my  expectations." 

"  I  don't  want  to  have  any  muss  about  it,"  inter- 
posed Larry ;  "  but  I  don't  think  he  has  tried  very 
hard  to  treat  me  well." 

"  For  what  took  place  in  the  railway  carriage 
when  we  were  going  to  London,  I  beg  your  par' 
don,"  replied  Miles,  trying  to  look  penitent. 

"  Apology  cheerfully  accepted,"  added  Larry. 

"What  was  that?"  asked  the  baronet.  "You 
never  said  anything  to  me  about  it." 

"  No,  I  did  not,  grandfather,  for  I  don't  want  to 
be  the  author  of  a  family  row." 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  him  for  his  forbear- 
ance," replied  Miles.  "  I  think  he  has  no  further 
cause  of  complaint." 

"  Unfortunately,  I  have,"  said  Larry  ;  and  I  saw 
that  he  was  determined  to  expose  the  conduct  of 
Miles. 


330  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  What  have  you  been  doing,  Miles  ?  "  demanded 
the  baronet,  sternly. 

"  Nothing  at  all,  grandfather.  Except  in  the 
instance  for  which  I  have  apologized,  I  have  never 
spoken  an  unkind  word  to  him." 

"That  is  very  true,  Miles;  but  you  have  done 
worse  than  that.  You  have  employed  an  Italian 
bravo  to  dog  my  steps,  and  take  my  life,  and  twice 
I  have  narrowly  escaped  death  at  his  hands." 

"  'Pon  my  life  !  "  exclaimed  the  baronet,  spring- 
ing to  his  feet,  his  face  red  with  anger. 

"  I  really  do  not  know  what  he  means,  Sir 
Philip,"  replied  Miles,  with  an  assumed  look  of 
amazement. 

"  I  was  here  three  months  in  the  summer,  and 
did  Tiot  mention  the  circumstance,"  continued 
Larry;  "but  I  confess  I  don't  like  to  have  a  cut- 
throat on  my  track  always.  It  isn't  pleasant  to  be 
obliged  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  an  assassin  all  the 
time." 

"  I  should  say  not,"  added  the  baronet,  decid- 
edly.    "  Are  you  so  bad  as  this,  Miles  ?  " 

"  You  condemn  me,  grandfather,  without  an}r 
proof.  I  haven't  the  least  idea  what  Lawrence 
means." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       331 

"  Do  you  know  one  Cuore,  an  Italian  ? "  asked 
Larry. 

"  Never  heard  of  such  a  person." 

"  Wait  a  minute  ;  I  will  bring  the  papers,  for  I 
am  prepared  to  prove  all  that  I  say,"  said  Larry, 
leaving  the  room ;  but  he  soon  returned  with  a 
couple  of  letters  in  his  hand. 

"  This  is  all  a  fiction,  Sir  Philip,"  protested 
Miles. 

"  We  will  see  whether  it  is  or  not,"  replied 
Larry.  "  I  have  told  you  about  our  experience  in 
the  French  army,  and  that  Phil  and  I  narrowly  es- 
caped being  shot  as  spies ;  but  I  didn't  tell  you 
how  we  got  into  the  scrape." 

My  friend  detailed  our  relations  with  Cuore 
from  the  time  we  first  met  him  in  Paris,  and 
showed  how  he  had  led  us  into  a  doubtful  position, 
and  then  caused  our  arrest  on  the  Ticino. 

"All  that  may  be,  but  I  had  nothing  whatever 
to  do  with  it,"  said  Miles,  who  had  not  yet  been 
connected  with  the  affair. 

"  We  found  upon  the  person  of  the  Italian  this 
letter,  which  contained  a  draft  for  money  sent  to 
him." 

The  baronet  took  the  letter,  and  carefully  exam- 
ined it. 


332  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,    OR 

" No  signature;  but  it' looks  like  your  writing, 
Miles." 

"  It  is  not  my  writing,  grandfather,  and  I  know 
nothing  about  it." 

"  Then  the  general  opened  the  mail-bag,  in 
which  Cuore  had  put  some  letters.  One  was  di- 
rected to  Miles  Grimsby." 

"  Perhaps  it  was  to  my  father,"  said  Miles,  who 
now  looked  pale,  and  his  lip  quivered. 

"  Pshaw,  Miles  !  Your  father  had  not  mind 
enough  to  write  a  letter,  or  to  do  any  business, 
within  the  last  three  months." 

"  Here  is  the  letter,  Sir  Philip." 

The  baronet  read  it.  There  could  be  no  doubt 
that  it  was  addressed  to  Miles,  and  the  contents 
fully  confirmed  all  that  Larry  had  declared. 

"  Then,  at  Leipsic,  I  found  myself  in  a  balloon 
car  with  this  same  Cuore,  who  attempted  to  throw 
me  out,  and  who,  perhaps,  would  have  succeeded 
if  the  wound  he  had  received  in  Italy  had  not 
broken  out  afresh ;  "  and  Larry  detailed  the  event 
with  thrilling  power. 

"  That's  enough ! "  exclaimed  the  baronet. 
"  Miles  is  as  crazy  as  his  father  was.  I  have  been 
too  indulgent !  I  have  spoiled  the  boy.  He  uses 
my  money  to  hire  an  assassin  ! " 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDIER.       333 

"  This  is  a  ridiculous"  story,  Sir  Philip,  trumped 
up  to  prejudice  you  against  me,"  protested  Miles. 
"  There  is  not  a  word  of  truth  in  it.  The  story 
is  silly.  If  the  Italian  attempted  to  take  his  life 
in  the  balloon,  why  didn't  he  cause  his  arrest  ? 
He  doesn't  even  inquire  what  became  of  the  man. 
There  isn't  a  word  of  truth  in  the  story." 

"  I  would  give  ten  years  of  my  life  if  I  could 
believe  there  was  not,"  said  the  baronet,  sadly. 

"  I  am  rather  sorry  I  said  anything  about  the 
matter,"  added  Larry. 

"  It  is  best  that  I  should  know  the  truth,  bad 
as  it  is.  I  will  investigate  for  myself.  No  more 
of  my  money   shall  go  to.  pay  a  bravo." 

Miles  left  the  room,  no  longer  able  to  confront 
his  grandfather's  grief  and  anger. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  Lawrence,  my 
boy?"  asked  Sir  Philip. 

"  I  am  willing  to  do  whatever  you  may  desire, 
sir." 

"  Then  go  to  America  with  your  friend.  It  is 
better  that  you  should  be  out  of  the  way  for  a 
season.     Return  in  the  spring." 

We  talked  till  midnight ;  Sir  Philip  thought 
that  Larry  would  be  happier  in  the  United  States 


334  BIVOUAC    AND    BATTLE,    OR 

than  he  would  be  in  England,  though  he  was 
sorry  to  part  with  him ;  but  he  hoped  to  "  bring 
Miles  to  his  senses  "  before  spring. 

We  remained  at  Grimsby  Hall  three  days, 
during  which  my  mother  became  very  much 
attached  to  Blanche  Fennimore.  The  poor  girl 
was  not  happy  in  her  new  home.  Miles  and  his 
mother  disliked  her  on  account  of  her  relations 
to  Larry,  and  her  only  friend  in  the  house  was 
Sir  Philip,  who  was  very  kind  to  her.  But  she 
did  not  feel  at  home,  and  she  made  a  confidante 
of  my  mother.  She  desired  to  return  to  America, 
and  her  wish  came  to  the  baronet. 

"  You  will  all  leave  me  —  will  you  ?  "  said  he 
to  Larry. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  leave  you.  I  am  to  go  by 
your  advice." 

'j  It  is  better  for  you  to  go,  and  I  dare  say  for 
Blanche  too,  for  I  have  to  prepare  the  way  for 
you.     Go,  and  God  bless  you." 

"  But  Blanche  will  stay,  if  you  desire  it." 

"  I  haven't  the  heart  to  ask  it.  It  is  no  home 
for  a  girl  like  her,  while  Miles  is  here.  Go,  both 
of  you ;  and  it  will  be  different  in  the  spring. 
Write  me  every  week." 


THE  STRUGGLES  OF  A  SOLDTER.       335 

Sir  Philip  evidently  intended  to  make  some 
change  in  his  household,  to  reform  the  evil  spirit 
of  Miles.  He  preferred  to  do  this  unobserved  by 
Larry  and  Blanche.  The  baronet  was  very  sad 
when  we  left  him,  and  Miles  kept  out  of  the  way. 
We  went  to  Liverpool, -and  after  a  stormy  passage, 
arrived  at  New  York,  where  we  were  obliged  to 
remain  several  days,  until  Mrs.  Collingsby  recov- 
ered from  the  effects  of  the  voyage.  My  mother 
invited  Blanche  to  go  with  us  to  Chicago,  but  her 
friends  in  the  city  insisted  that  she  should  pass 
the  winter  with  them.  Larry,  therefore,  was  not 
disposed  to  go  away  farther  with  us,  though  he 
promised  to  visit  me  soon. 

We  journeyed  slowly  to  Chicago,  and  when  we 
arrived  I  confess  that  my  heart  bounded  with 
anxiety,  as  I  thought  of  meeting  the  Collingsbys 
there.  Joseph  had  written  to  them  that  my 
mother  had  acknowledged  me  as  her  son,  and 
that  he  had  no  doubt  of  the  fact ;  but  I  could  not 
see  how  my  grandfather  and  my  uncle  Richard 
would  be  able  to  retire  from  the  position  they 
had  before  taken  in  regard  to  me.  They  were 
of  that  sort  of  people  who  are  determined  to  be 
consistent.     But  I  wronged  them  in  my  thoughts. 


336  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OE 

The  first  person  I  saw  when  I  entered  the  house 
was  my  father.  I  was  astonished  to  see  him 
there,  and  more  astonished  when  my  grand- 
father and  my  uncle  gave  me  a  cordial  recep- 
tion. My  father  and  mother  met  in  perfect 
reconciliation,  and  both  wept  in  each  other's  em- 
brace. 

"  You  were  right,  Philip,"  said  the  elder  Mr. 
Collingsby.  "  You  are  my  grandson  beyond  a 
peradventure.     I  am  satisfied  now." 

"  So  am  I,  sir ;  and  I  think  I  could  have  con- 
vinced you  before,  if  you  would  have  heard  me," 
I  replied. 

"  it  would  not  have  done  a  particle  of  good  to 
hear  you.  I  should  not  have  believed  you  if  I 
had  heard  you.  I  believed  it  was  all  a  trick  on 
the  part  of  your  father ;  but  he  is  a  new  man 
now,  and  I  am  sorry  I  wronged  him." 

I  could  ask  for  no  more,  and  my  happiness  was 
complete.  For  a  week  we  talked  over  the  past, 
and  lived  it  over  again,  both  in  its  joys  and  its 
sorrows.  But  my  father's  business  demanded  his 
return  to  St.  Louis,  and  my  mother  and  myself 
went  with  him.  A  house  had  already  been  pro- 
vided,   and    we    took  immediate  possession  of  it. 


THE  STRUGGLES  OP  A  SOLDIER.       337 

For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  felt  at  home.  I 
was  in  the  actual  realization  of  the  joys  I  had 
anticipated  for  years.  I  was  under  the  same  roof 
with  my  father  and  my  mother,  reunited  after  a 
separation  of  fifteen  years. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  we  entered  our 
new  home,  my  father  read  a  chapter  from  the 
Bible,  and  in  his  prayer  which  followed,  he  ut- 
tered the  thanksgivings  to  God  that  were  in 
all  our  hearts.  Morning  and  evening  he  read  and 
prayed,  and  thus  kept  himself  strong  against  the 
temptations  that  continually  beset  him. 

"  I  did  not  believe  you  would  ever  reform, 
Edward,"  said  my  mother,  one  evening  after  the 
family  devotions. 

"  I  did  not  believe  that  I  ever  should  myself; 
but  that  good  woman,  Mrs.  Greenongh,  of  whom 
I  have  spoken  to  you,  put  me  on  the  right  track. 
I  had  no  strength  of  myself,  but  God  gave  it 
to  me  when  I  asked  for  it.  Without  my  Bible, 
and  without  my  daily  prayer,  I  am  afraid  I  could 
not  stand  a  single  day.  You  don't  know  what 
power  it  gives  me  to  feel  that  God  is  my  ever- 
present  help.  I  still  hanker  for  whiskey.  It  has 
seemed  to  me,  sometimes,  that  I  must  drink ;  and 
22 


338  BIVOUAC    AND   BATTLE,   OR 

1  know  that  I  should  if  God  did  not  help  me  every 
day  and  hour  that  I  live." 

My  mother  was  deeply  impressed  by  the  words 
of  my  father.  She  went  to  church  with  him  the 
next  Sunday,  and  attended  the  evening  meetings. 
His  influence  soon  led  her  to  join  him  in  the  Up- 
ward and  Onward  pilgrimage  upon  which  we  now 
all  journeyed  together.  I  cannot  tell  how  happy 
we  were,  for  every  hour  seemed  like  a  dream  of 
bliss  to  me.  I  need  hardly  say  that  I  did  not  spend 
a  day  in  St.  Louis  without  calling  upon  the  Grace- 
woods.  Ella  gave  me  a  greeting  which  assured 
me  that  I  had  still  a  place  in  her  heart.  They 
came  to  our  hous,e,  and  my  mother  thanked  them 
for  all  they  had  done  for  me.  The  two  families 
were  fast  friends  from  the  moment  they  met,  and 
frequent  were  the  visits  from  one  house  to  the 
other.  "  Mrs.  Greenough  was  a  valued  friend  of 
both. 

A  week  before  Christmas  I  had  a  letter  from 
Larry,  promising  to  spend  the  holidays  with  me. 
He  came,  and  our  tongues  flew  from  morning  till 
night. 

"  I  had  a  letter  from  Sir  Philip  the  other  day," 
said  he.  '%  The  old  gentleman  is  taming  Miles  with 
a  vengeance." 


THE   STRUGGLES   OP   A   SOLDIER.  339 

"  How  taming  him  ?  " 

"  He  stopped  bis  money  allowance,  and  keeps  a 
shadow  to  watch  him  wherever  he  goes.  But  it 
will  do  no  good." 

"  If  he  stops  his  allowance  he  cannot  employ  any 
such  fellow  as  Cuore  to  dog  you." 

"  He  can  raise  all  the  money  he  wants.  The 
brokers  in  London  will  discount  his  expectations. 
But  never  mind  him.  I  have  bought  a  yacht, 
Phil." 

"  A  yacht !  " 

"  One  hundred  and  twenty  tons.  She  was  sold 
at  auction,  and  I  bought  her  at  half  her  value." 

"  How  do  you  know  she  is  a  good  vessel  ?  " 

"  I  got  the  old  sailors  to  examine  her,  bored  her 
timbers,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  She  is  only 
two  years  old,  sound  as  a  nut,  and  took  the  first 
prize  in  half  a  dozen  races.  I  shall  go  to  England 
in  her  in  the  spring,  and  you  must  go  with  me." 

"  I  can't  go." 

"  What's  the  reason  you  can't  ?  "  demanded  he, 
excitedly. 

"  I  can't  afford  to  spend  any  more  of  my  time  in 
that  way.  My  father  is  not  rich ;  has  only  his 
salary  of  three  thousand  a  year,"  I  replied. 


340  BIVOUAC   AND   BATTLE,   OR 

"  But  your  mother's  family  are  rich." 

"  Undoubtedly ;  but  we  have  no  claims  upon 
them.  I  must  go  to  work,  and  earn  my  own 
living." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  I  suppose  I  shall  be  a  clerk." 

"  How  much  salary  do  you  expect  to  get  ?  " 

"  Eight  hundred,  or  a  thousand." 

"  Good  !  I  appoint  you  captain  of  the  Blanche, 
at  a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  a  year." 

"  Thank  you,  Larry ;  you  are  very  kind." 

"  No,  I'm  not;  none  of  that." 

"  I'm  certainly  very  grateful  —  " 

"  Dry  up  !     None  of  your  gratitude." 

"  I  should  certainly  like  the  position  better  than 
anything  else  I  can  think  of;  but  I'm  afraid  my 
father  and  mother  will  not  consent  to  the  long 
absence." 

"  We  will  reason  with  them." 

They  consented,  after  a  long  argument,  only  to 
oblige  my  friend  who  had  saved  my  life,  and 
because  I  desired  so  much  to  go.  Of  my  ex- 
perience in  the  Blanche  I  have  yet  to  tell,  for  I 
sailed  in  her  from  New  York  on  the  first  of  April. 
Larry  spent  a  happy  week  with  me,  and  I  met  him 


THE  STRUGGLES   OF   A   SOLDIER.  341 

again  on  board  of  the  Blanche  about  two  weeks 
later.  I  devoted  the  rest  of  the  winter  to  the 
study  of  navigation,  maritime  and  naval  laws,  in 
order  to  fit  myself  for  my  new  position.  But 
whatever  else  I  studied,  I  could  not,  in  my  father's 
house,  forget  that  the  business  of  this  world  is  not 
the  chief  end  of  existence.  I  still  labored  to  make 
my  course  upward  and  onward,  and  endeavored  to 
profit  by  all  the  experiences  of  life,  and  not  least 
by  those  of  Bivouac  and  Battle. 


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LION  BEN  OF  ELM  ISLAND.     16mo.     Illustrated.  $1.25. 

"  Elm  Island  lays  off  the  coast  of  Eastern  Maine,  a  wild  and  romantia 
region,  and  the  incidents  of  the  story  are  recorded  as  happening-  when  this 
Country  was  just  emerging  from  its  struggle  for  independence.  It  is  a 
capital  story  of  the  rough-and-tumble  life  of  the  early  settlers." — Chicago 
Journal  of  Commerce. 

CHARLIE  BELL,  THE  WAIF  OF  ELM  ISLAND.    16mo. 

Illustrated.     $1.25. 

"  This  volume  tells  the  story  of  Charlie  Bell,  who  was  thrown  upon  Elm 
Island  like  a  waif  from  the  ocean,  and  adopted  by  Lion  Ben.  With  Yankee 
boys  he  shares  the  excitiug  adventures  of  a  new  country  and  a  rude  state 
of  society." 

THE  ARE  OF  ELM  ISLAND.    16mo.    Illustrated.   $1.25. 

This  volume  of  the  series  is  by  no  means  inferior  in  interest  to  its  prede- 
cessors, dealing  principally  with  adventures  at  sea,  which  are  always 
delightful  to  boys. 

THE  BOY  FARMERS  OF  ELM  ISLAND.     16mo.     Illus- 
trated.    $1.25. 

The  fourth  volume  of  the  series  gives,  in  graphic  and  earnest  style,  tha 
efforts  of  three  lads  to  transform  Elm  Island  from  a  wilderness  to  a  fruit- 
ful and  productive  land.    It  is  full  of  life,  adventure,  and  fun. 

THE     YOUNG     SHIPBUILDERS     OF    ELM    ISLAND. 
16mo.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 

81  Mr.  Kellogg  is  winning  laurels  as  a  writer  for  and  educator  of  youth 
Health  and  vigor  are  in  his  writings,  and  the  lad  has  more  of  the  first-class 
tnan  iD  him  after  the  perusal."  —  Providence  Press. 


Sold  by  all  Booksellers  and  Newsdealers,  and  sent  by  mail,  postpaidi 
on  receipt  of  price. 

LEE  &.  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


Lee  &>  ShepanPs  Recent  Publications. 


OLIVER    OPTICS    NEW    BOOKS. 


NORTHERN  LANDS,  or  Young  America  in  Russia  and 
Prussia.     By  Oliver  Optic.     i6mo.    Illustrated.     $1-50. 

UP  THE  BALTIC,  or  Young  America  in  Sweden,  Nor- 
way and  Denmark.  One  handsome  i6mo  volume.  Il- 
lustrated.    $1-50. 

"  Oliver  Optic  is  so  well  known  to  the  boys  of  America  that  he  needs  r.o 
introduction,  nor  do  his  writings  require  any  editorial  indorsement.  H.s 
name  on  the  title-page  of  any  volume  is  enough  to  insure  its  immediate  ac- 
ceptance." —  New  York  Citizen  a?id  Roicnd  Table. 

BIVOUAC  AND  BATTLE,  or  The  Struggles  of  a  Sol- 
dier.     By  Oliver  Optic.     i6mo.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 

"This  volume,  attractively  bound  uniformly  with  the  previous  numbers 
of  the  series,  and  neatly  illustrated,  details  the  further  history  of  the  hero, 
Phil  Farringford,  locating  the  scene  of  his  adventures  in  New  York,  and  at 
the  scene  of  the  Italian  war  in  1859,  and  shows  how,  through  all  his  struggles 
as  a  Soldier,  true  to  his  motto,  '  Upward  and  Onward,'  he  was  ever  true  to 
himself,  to  his  friends,  and  to  his  God."  —  Worcester  Gazette. 

OLIVER    OPTIC'S   ALMANAC.     Fully  Illust.    30  cts. 

"Who  does  not  know  who  Oiiver  Optic  is,  of  his  many  juvenile  books  that 
are  read  by  Young  America  all  over  the  land  ?  Well,  his  Almanac  is  equal  to 
half  a  dozen  books.     Be  sure  and  get  one."  — Peru  Herald. 

"The  Best  Juvenile  Magazine  in  the  World." 

OLIVER    OPTIC'S     MAGAZINE.      Published   by   Lee    & 

Shepard,  149  Washington  St.,  Boston,  at  $2.50  a  Year. 

"  A  careful  examination  of  this  magazine  shows  that  it  fairly  takes  the  lead 
in  juvenile  periodical  literature.  It  contains  more  matter  and  in  greater  va- 
riety, is  better  illustrated,  displays  more  genuine  editorial  work  than  any  of  its 
rivals  in  the  field,  and  its  great  popularity  and  ever  increasing  circulation  are 
proofs  that  this  is  the  verdict  of  the  public." 


The    TJmi^ersal   "Verdict. 

"  '  Oliver  Optic'  is  a  nom  de  flume  that  is  known  and  loved 
by  almost  every  boy  of  intelligence  in  the  land.  We  have 
seen  a  highly  intellectual  and  world-weary  man,  a  cynic 
whose  heart  was  somewhat  imbittered  by  its  large  experience 
of  human  nature,  take  up  one  of  Oliver  Optic's  books  and 
read  it  at  a  sitting,  neglecting  his  work  in  yielding  to  the 
fascination  of  the  pages.  When  a  mature  and  exceedingly 
well-informed  mind,  long  despoiled  of  all  its  freshness,  can 
thus  find  pleasure  in  a  book  for  boys,  no  additional  words  of 
recommendation  are  needed." — Sunday  Times,  JV   T  City. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'8  JUVENILE  FOBUOATIONS. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S    BOOKS. 

THE  BOAT  CLUB  SERIES, 

A  library  for  Young  People,    Each  volume  illustrated.-    In  sets  or  separate. 


THE     BOAT     CLUB  ;   or,  the  Bunkers  of  Rippleton. 

$1.25. 

"  One  noticeable  feature  of  this  author's  books  is  their  purity.  Not  a  line 
is  to  be  found  in  any  work  of  his  but  what  will  tend  to  elevate  and  purify  tha 
mind  of  the  boy  or  girl  who  may  peruse  it." 

ALL    ABOARD  ;  or,  Life  on  the  Lake.      $1.25.  ~ 

"All  Aboard"  was  written  to  gratify  the  reasonable  curiosity  of  the 
readers  of  the  "Boat  Club,"  to  know  what  occurred  at  Woodlake  during  the 
second  season ;  and  though  it  is  a  sequel,  it  has  no  direct  connection  with  ica 
predecessor.  The  Introduction  in  the  first  chapter  contains  a  brief  synopsis 
of  the  principal  events  of  the  first  season;  so  that  those  who  have  not  read 
the  "Boat  Club"  will  labor  under  no  disadvantage  on  that  account. 

NOW    OR     NEVER  ;  or,   the  Adventures   of  Bobby 

Bright.     $1.25. 

The  author  has  been  for  many  years  a  successful  teacher  in  one  of  the 
Boston  Public  Schools,  and  the' knowledge  of  youthful  character  thus  ob- 
tained has  been  used  to  good  advantage  in  his  works. 

TRY     AGAIN  ;    or,  the  Trials    and  Triumphs  of  Harry- 
West.     $1.25. 

The  story  of  Harry  West  is  a  record  of  youthful  experience  designed  to 
illustrate  the  necessity  and  the  results  of  perseverance  in  well  doing.  The 
true  success  of  life  is  the  attainment  of  a  pure  and  exalted  character;  and  he 
who  at  three-score-and-ten  has  won  nothing  but  wealth  and  a  name,  has 
failed  to  achieve  the  noblest  purpose  of  his  being.  This  is  the  moral  of  the 
story  contained  in  this  volume. 

LITTLE     BY    LITTLE  ;    or,  the   Cruise   of  the   Fly- 
away.    $1.25. 

Paul  Duncan,  the  hero  of  this  volume,  is  a  nautical  young  gentleman,  and 
most  of  the  events  of  the  story  occur  upon  the  water,  and  possess  that  excit- 
ing and  captivating  character  for  which  this  author's  books  are  famous.  But 
the  author  hopes  that  something  more  than  exciting  incidents  will  be  found 
upon  his  pages;  that  though  he  has  seldom,  if  ever,  gone  out  of  his  way  to 
define  the  moral  quality,  or  measure  the  moral  quantity,  of  the  words  and 
deeds  of  his  characters,  the  story  will  not  be  found  wanting  in  a  true  Chris- 
tian spirit. 

POOR    AND     PROUD  ;    or,   the  Fortunes   of   Katy 
Redburn.     $1.25. 

The  history  of  a  smart  girl,  where  fortunes  are  made  to  depend  upon  her 
good  principles,  her  politeness,  her  determined  perseverance,  and  her  over- 
coming that  foolish  pride,  which  is  a  snare  to  the  feet.  In  these  respects  she 
is  a  worthy  example  for  the  young. 

Sold  by  all  booksellers  and  newsdealers,  and  sent  by  mail,  post-paid  a* 
receipt  of  price. 

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LEE  &  SKEPARDS  JUVENILE  PUBLICATIONS. 


TALES    OF    ADVENTURE. 


THE  FRONTIER  SERIES, 

Four  volumes.    16mo.    HI.    Price,  per  set,  $5,00. 

THE  CABIN  ON  THE  PRAIRIE.  By  Rev.  Charles  H, 
Pearson.     lGmo.     llustrated.     $1.25. 

"  The  Cabin  on  the  Prairie  is  an  earnest,  healthy  book,  full  of  th< 
hardships,  trials,  and  triumphs  of  life  in  our  new  settlements." 

PLANTING    THE    WILDERNESS ;  or,  The  Pioneer  Boys. 
By  James  D.  McCabe,  Jr.     16*mo.     Illustrated.     $  1.25. 
"  Planting  the  Wilderness  tells  of  the  strange  adventures  of  real  life, 
Which,  more  than  the  fancies  of  the  novel  writer,  are  of  absorbing  in- 
terest." 

TWELVE  NIGHTS  IN  THE  HUNTERS'  CAMP.  By 
Rev.  "W.  Barrows.     16mo.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 

"  Twelve  Nights  in  the  Hunters'  Camp  is  a  pleasant,  stirring,  sensible 
book,  full  of  life  and  incident,  and  all  aglow  with  the  breezy  freshness 
of  woods  and  prairies,  lakes  and  rivers." 

A  THOUSAND  MILES'  WALK  across  the  Pampas  and 
Andes  of  South  America.  By  Nathaniel  H.  Bishop. 
16mo.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 

"A  Thousand  Miles'  Walk  across  South  America  is  a  record  of  the 
experiences  of  a  Yankee  boy,  full  of  enthusiasm  to  see  and  learn  by  actual 
sxperience  the  wonders  of  that  almost  terra  incognita." 

This  series  of  books  are  of  sterling  merit,  snd  while  they 
closely  follow  real  experiences,  are  full  of  those  thrilling  inci< 
ients  which  charm  both  youth  and  age. 


Sold  by  all  Booksellers  and  Newsdealers,  and  sent  by  mail,  postpaid, 
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Lee  &*  SheparcPs  Recent  Publications. 


NEW   JUVENILE    BOOKS. 


THE   DICK   AND    DAISY   SERIES.      By   Miss    Adelaide 
F.  Samuels.     Four  vols.     Illustrated.     Per  vol.,  50  cts. 

"A  very  pretty  box  of  small  books  for  the  juveniles.  There  are  four  vol- 
umes, of  a  hundred  pages  each.  We  have  first  the  Early  Days  of  Dick  and 
Daisy,  '  Adrift  in  the  World  ; '  their  City  Life,  '  Fighting  the  Battle  ; '  their 
Proteges,  '  Saved  from  the  Street ; '  and  their  Reward,  or  '  Grandfather  Mil- 
ly's  Luck.'  This  is  a  charming  collection,  written  by  Miss  Adelaide  F.  Sam- 
uels, of  whom,  judging  from  these  volumes,  the  world  will  hear  more  here- 
after." —  A  merican  Baptist. 

SINGULAR   CREATURES;    Being  Studies  and  Stories  from 
the  Domestic  Zoology  of  our  Parish.      By  Mrs.  George 
Cupples,  author  of  "Driven  to  Sea,"  &c.     i6mo.     Illus- 
trated.    Cloth.     $1.50. 
The  London  papers  thus  speak  of  the  authoress  :  — 

"  Of  the  miscellaneous  articles,  none  are  more  charming  than  those  by  Mrs. 
Geo.  Cupples.  .  .  .  Her  stories  are  for  all  readers,  whether  few  or  many 
years  0;d."  —  Lo?idon  Times  (Tke  Thunderer). 

"  Mrs.  Geo.  Cupples,  who  is  already  very  favorably  known  as  the  writer  of 
any  number  of  capital  stories  for  juveniles,  has  succeeded  in  this  instance  in 
producing  a  charming  story."  —  Scotsman. 

"We  shall  be  mistaken  if  these  well-written  stories  do  not  commend  them- 
selves to  the  good  judgments  of  our  readers."  — New  Monthly  Magazine. 

"Very  interesting,  and  will  afford  many  hours  of  amusement. "  —  Observer. 

"Very  charming  and  attractive."  —  London  Record. 

"  Nicely  and  freshly  written,  perfectly  healthy  in  tone,  and  remarkable  for 
a  pleasant  flow  of  human  kindness."  —  London  Illustrated  News. 

THE  AMERICAN   HOME  BOOK  of  Indoor  Games,  Amuse- 
ments, and  Occupations.     By  Mrs.  Caroline  L.  Smith 

(Aunt  Carrie).     i6mo.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 

"  In  compiling  this  '  American  Home  Book,'  the  author  has  admirably  suc- 
ceeded in  mingling  both  work  and  play,  and  such  amusements  have  been 
selected,  together  with  directions  for  useful  and  ornamental  work,  as  can  be 
recommended  to  our  young  readers.  Among  its  contents  are  :  Amusements 
for  little  boys  and  girls,  musical  and  other  games  for  little  children,  games  of 
memory,  games  for  old  and  young,  new  games,  material  magic,  head  work, 
answers  to  head  work,  amusements  for  Christmas  holidays,  Christmas,  ven- 
triloquism, gardening,  flowers,  house  and  home  arts,  the  toilet,  home  reading, 
the  sick  room,  directions  for  making  bread,  yeast,  &c."  —  Eagle,  Pittsfield. 


Lee  <5r*  Shepard^s  Publications. 


NEW    JUVENILE    B^CJKS. 


AMONG  THE  BRIGANDS.  By  Prof.  James  De  Mille. 
i6mo.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 

"We  don't  know  that  we  need  say  anv  rrfbre  of  this  book  than  to  announce 
its  author,  and  everybody  will  know  at  once  that  it  is  written  in  a  wide-awake, 
dashing  style.  This  tale  is  full  of  exciting  scenes  and  hair-breadth  escapes, 
the  location  of  which  is  in  Italy,  and  the  details  of  which  afford  an  insight 
into  the  characters  to  be  found  there,  and  the  strange  things  to  be  seen,  — 
the  brigands,  the  beggars,  ruined  and  burned  cities,  &c,  &c"  —  Lewiston 
Journal. 

FIRE  IN  THE  WOODS.  By  Prof.  James  De  Mille. 
Uniform  in  style  and  price  with  "The  B.  O.  W.  C,"  "The 
Boys  of  Grand  Pre  School,"  "Lost  in  the  Fog,"  &c. 
l6mo.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 

"This  book  is  the  fourth  in  the  B.  O.  W.  C.  series,  and  is  fully  equal  to 
the  preceding  volumes.  The  readers  of  Prof.  De  Milie's  books  maybe  as- 
sured at  the  outset  that  they  will  find  no  dull  chapters  to  be  waded  through 
or  skipped,  as  shall  best  please  each  reader." — Meadville  JourjuU. 

THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  CASCO.  By  Elijah  Kellogg. 
l6mo.     Illustrated.     $1.25. 

"This  volume  is  full  of  interesting  and  exciting  adventures  on  sea  and 
land,  with  enough  of  fun  to  make  it  spicy  and  inviting.  The  storv  illus- 
trates how  easily  good  persons  may  fall  into  bad  company,  and  the  influence 
they  exert  when  among  those  who  are  in  the  wrong  path.  Hence  it  teaches 
an  excellent  moral  lesson. " —  Webster  Times. 

THE  TURNING  WHEEL.  By  Paul  Cobden,  author  of 
"Who  Will  Win?"  and  "Going  on  a  Mission."  i6mo. 
Illustrated.     $1.25. 

"This  is  a  volume  of  the  'Beckoning  Series.'  It  has  a  preface  at  once 
unique  and  suggestive.  'There  is  a  wheel  that  is  always  turning.  It  never 
stands  still.  To  some,  in  its  unceasing  motion,  it  brings  good;  to  others, 
evil.  That  it  may  bring  to  all  the  readers  of  this  story  what  they  most  need, 
is  the  earnest  wish  of  the  writer.'  These  few  words  explain  the  title,  and  give 
the  hint  to  the  story.  It  charminaly  describes  the  turning  of  the  wheel  for  its 
own  circle  of  characters,  with  the  good  and  ill  it  brought."  —  Albany  Jour. 

AUNT    MADGE'S    STORY.      By  Sophie  May,  author  of 

"Little  Prudy   Stories,"   "Dotty   Dimple    Stories,"    &c. 

Illustrated.     75  cents. 

"The  works  of  this  writer  for  children  have  met  with  a  heartv  reception 
from  those  for  whom  th  y  were  intended;  she  knows  just  how  to  talk  to  the 
little  ones,  and  her  style  is  remarkably  adarted  to  their  comprehension. 
Aunt  Madge's  story  is  the  third  volume  in  '  Little  Prudy's  Flyaway  Series,' 
which  is  to  be  completed  in  six  volumes,  and  every  little  one  who  has  read  or 
heard  read  'Little  Prudy'  and  the  'Dotty  Dimple'  stories,  will  be  delighted 
with  this."  — Nation,  Bosto7u 


REV.   ELIJAH   KELLOGG'S 

ELM  ISLAND  STORIES. 

Six  vols.    16mo.    Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.25. 

1.  Lion  Ben  of  Elm  Island. 

2.  Charlie  Bell. 

3.  The  Ark  of  Elm  Island. 

4.  The  Boy  Farmers  of  Elm 

Island. 

5.  The  Young  Shipbuilders  of 

Elm  Island. 

6.  The  Hardserabble  of  Elm 

Island. 

"There  is  no  sentimentalism  in  this  series. 
It  is  all  downright  matter-of-fact  boy  life,  and 
of  course  they  are  deeply  interested  in  read- 
ing it.  The  history  of  pioneer  life  is  so 
attractive  that  one  involuntarily  wishes  to 
renew  those  early  struggles  with  adverse 
circumstances,  and  join  the  busy  actors  in 
their  successful  efforts  to  build  up  pleasant 
homes  on  our  sea-girt  islands."—  Zioris 
Herald. 

LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


Illustrated  Natural  History. 

YOUNG  HUNTER'S  LIBRARY. 


By  MBS.  R.  Lee.     Four  volumes. 
Per  vol.,  $1.50. 


Illustrated. 


The  Australian  "Wanderers. 

The  Adventures  of  Captain  Spencer  and 
his  Horse  and  Dog  in  the  Wilds  of  Aus- 
tralia. 

The  African  Crusoes. 

The  Adventures  of  Carlos  and  Antonio 
in  the  Wilds  of  Africa. 

Anecdotes  of  Animals, 

With  their  Habits,  Instincts,  &c,  &c. 

Anecdotes  of  Birds,  Fishes,  Rep- 
tiles, &c,  their  Habits  and  Instincts. 

This  is  a  very  popular  series,  prepared  for 
the  purpose  of  interesting  the  young  in  the 
study  of  natural  history.  The  exciting  ad- 
ventures of  celebrated  travellers,  anecdotes 
of  sagacity  in  birds,  beasts,  &c,  have  been 
interwoven  in  a  pleasant  manner.  This  se- 
ries is  not  only  very  interesting  but  is  deci- 
dedly profitable  reading. 

LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


Wonderfhil  Stories. 

JUTLAND  SERIES. 

Four  vols.   Illustrated.    Set  in  a  neat  box,  or  sold 
separate.    Per  vol.,  $1.50. 

The  Sand  Hills  of  Jutland. 

By  Hans  Christian  Andersen.     l6mo, 
Illustrated. 

Yarns  of  an  Old  Mariner. 

By  Mrs.  Mary  Cowden  Clarke.     Illus- 
trated by  Cruikshank.   i6mo. 

Schoolboy  Days. 

By  W.  H.  G.  Kingston.      i6mo.      Six- 
teen illustrations. 


Great  Men  and  Gallant  Deeds. 

By  J.  G.  Edgar.     i6mo.     Illustrated. 

Four  books  by  four  noted  authors  comprise 
this  series,  which  contains  Adventures  by  Sea 
and  Land,  Manly  Sports  of  England,  Boy 
Life  in  English  Schools,  Fairy  Tales  and 
Legends,  —  all  handsomely  illustrated. 


The   Great   West. 

THE  FRONTIER  SERIES 

Five  vols.    Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.25. 

Twelve  Nights  in   the   Hunters' 

Camp. 
A  Thousand  Miles'  "Walk  Across 

South  America. 
The  Cabin  on  the  Prairie. 
Planting  the  "Wilderness. 
The  Young  Pioneers. 

The  romance  surrounding  the  adventurous 
lives  of  Western  pioneers  and  immigrants 
has  suggested  nearlv  as  many  stories  as  the 
chivalric  deeds  of  knight-errantry.  These 
tales  of  frontier  life  are,  however,  as  a  rule, 
characterized  by  such  wildness  of  fancy  and 
such  extravagancy  of  language  that  we  have 
often  wondered  whv  another  Cervantes  did 
not  ridicule  our  border  romances  by  describ- 
ing a  second  Don  Quixote's  adventures  or 
the  prairies.  We  are  pleased  to  notice,  tna 
in  the  new  series  of  Frontier  Tales,  by  Lei 
&  Shepard,  there  is  an  agreeable  absence  o 
sensational  writing,  of  that  maudlin  senti 
mentality  which  make  the  generality  of  sucl 
tales  nauseous."  —  Standard. 


h? 


LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston.    LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


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MISS   LOUISE   M.    THURSTON  S 

CHARLEY  ROBERTS  SERIES. 

To  be  completed  in  six  vols.     Illustrated. 
Per  volume,  #1. 

How  Charley  Roberts  Be- 
came  a  nVIaru 

How  Eva  !Roberts  Grained. 
Her  Edtacation. 

Charley    and    Eva's    Home 

in  the   "West. 

(Others  in  Preparation.) 

In  presenting  the  above  new  series  the  publish- 
ers believe  that  they  are  adding  to  that  class  of 
juvenile  literature  whose  intrinsic  worth  is  recog- 
nized by  those  who  have  at  heart  the  good  of  the 
young. 

"They  are  pleasantly  written  books,  descriptive 
of  the  struggles  and  difficulties  of  Charley  and 
Eva  in  attaining  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
and  they  are  well  adapted  to  stimulate  a  noble 
ambition  in  the  hearts  of  young  persons." 

LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


MAY    MANNERING'S 

HELPING  HAND  SERIES. 

Six  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  volume,  $1. 
Climbing  the  Rope. 
Billy   Gfrimes's   Eavorite. 

The  Cruise  of  the  IDasha- 

way. 

The    Hiittle    Spaniard.. 
Salt  "Water  Dick. 
Little  Maid   of  Oxbow. 

"  'May  Mannering'  is  the  nom  de  plume  of  an 
agreeable  writer  for  the  young  folks  who  possesses 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  has  a  thorough 
comprehension  of  the  way  to  interest  children."  — 
Philadelphia  Item, 

"We  like  the  spirit  of  these  books  exceedingly, 
and  cordially  commend  it  to  the  notice  of  Sabbath 
School  Libraries."  —  Ladies'  Repository. 

LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


"Uartco  anu  Sttractibe." 

VACATION  STORY-BOOKS. 

Six  vols.     Illust.     Per  vol.,  80  cts. 

"Worth  not  "Wealth. 

Country  Life. 

The  Charm. 

Karl  Keigler. 

Walter  Seyton. 

Holidays  at  Chestnut  Hill. 


ROSY  DIAMOND  STORY-BOOKS. 

Six  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol.,  80  cts. 

The  Great  Rosy  Diamond. 
Daisy,  or  The  Fairy  Spectacles. 
Violet,  a  Fairy  Story. 
Minnie,  or  The  Little  "Woman. 
The  Angel  Children. 
Little  Blossom's  Seward 

These  are  delightful  works  for  children.  They 
are  all  very  popular,  and  have  had  a  wide  circula- 
tion. They  are  now  presented  in  a  new  dress. 
The  stories  are  all  amusing  and  instructive,  ex- 
hibiting human  nature  in  children,  and  teaching 

some  very  important  practical  lessons. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


"  .fascinating  ana  InBtructtbe." 

THE   PROVERB   SERIES. 

By  Mrs.  M.  E.  Bradley  and  Miss 
Kate  J.  Neely. 

Six  vols.    Illust    Per  vol.,  $1. 

Birds  of  a  Feather. 

Fine  Feathers  do  Mot  make  Fine 
Birds. 

Handsome  is  that  Handsome  does. 

A  "Wrong  Confessed  is  half  Re- 
dressed. 

Actions  speak  louder  than  "Words. 

One  Good  Turn  deserves  another. 

"  Each  volume  is  complete  in  itself,  and  illus- 
trates, with  a  story  of  most  fascinating  and  in- 
structive interest,  the  proverb  taken  for  its  title. 
These  are  just  the  kind  of  books  that  we  like  to 
see  in  a  family  or  Sunday-school  library.  They 
will  be  read  by  persons  of  all  ages  with  deep 
interest,  and  afford  instructive  and  entertaining 
conversation  with  the  children." — 8.  S.  Journal. 

LEE  h  SHEPAR&  Publishers,  Bostoc,        <^' 


